Soya Chunks Roast

For those who want to try soya chunks, this could be one recipe you could try. Thanks to a dear friend for this delicious soya chunks recipe. With a blend of masala, this roast has a nadan taste, that's more or less like a meat roast.

Ingredients

200 grams - Soya chunks
1 cup - Small onion / Shallots, sliced
2 medium - Onion, sliced
2'' piece - Ginger, crushed
6 to 8 big flakes - Garlic, crushed
4 - Green chili, slit in center
2 to 3 sprigs - Curry leaves

To roast and make a paste

2 tsp - Fennel seeds
1'' piece - Cinnamon stick
4 tbsp - Grated coconut
2 big sprigs - Curry leaves
2.5 tsp - Coriander powder
1 tsp - Turmeric powder
2.5 tsp - Chili powder
2 tsp - Garam masala powder

Seasoning / Tadka

2 tsp - Fennel seeds
3 to 4 sprigs - Curry leaves
3 tbsp - Coconut bits, Thenga kothu
Coconut oil

Method

1 ) Wash soya chunks in running water. Boil enough water to soak soya, add salt to taste. Add the soya chunks to the hot water and keep aside for 1/2 hour. Drain the water and squeeze all the water out of the soya chunks. Again in fresh water, wash soya chunks and squeeze out the water. Do one more time and squeeze out all the water very well.

2 ) In a pan heat little coconut oil. Add all the ingredients listed to roast to the pan and roast on low heat, till the aroma of the spices are released and spices are slightly roasted. Take off the stove and cool. Then grind to a smooth paste with little water.

3 ) Now mix and coat the masala paste on the soya chunks. Squeeze out all the water from soya chunks well, so that the chunks sucks the masala very well.

4 ) Then add small onion, big onion, ginger, garlic, green chili, curry leaves and with fingers nicely mix the soya chunks with these ingredients. Keep aside to marinate. Minimum time to marinate is 1/2 an hour. The more the better.

5 ) In a large kadai /wok, heat coconut oil, add fennel seeds fry for a second, then add marinated soya chunks and coconut bits. Stir and roast the soya chunks on medium heat for 1/2 an hour. In between add coconut oil and keep stirring in between. Once the chunks have roasted to a slight brown color add curry leaves and stir in. Take off the stove and transfer to a serving dish.

Serve as a side dish with rice or roti.

Note - 1 ) Now if you want this recipe in a gravy / curry form, do all the preparations as said above, then add 1/2 to 1 cup water and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles.

2 ) You can dry out the gravy and roll the soya chunks in roti with shredded mozzarella cheese, some veggies like tomato, onion and toast it for a snack.