Green Soya Keema

 

            Soya in any form is always a healthy option and is a great substitute to any non-vegetarian dish. Full of protein, you will be surprised to know that it tastes just like mutton / chicken mince. So let me share a yummy recipe of soya keema matar with a twist. The gravy is a green based with some coriander-mint-dill leaves, along with other basic ingredients as the base of the gravy. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing veggie dish.

 

         This dish is a vegetarian version of the classic Mumbai style Green Mutton Keema. The original recipe, bought to India by the Persians, is typically served for breakfast with buttered pav in all Irani restaurants across the city. 

         The dill leaves along with coriander and mint leaves imparts a distinct flavor to the dish. Moreover, the vibrant green color makes it further more appetizing. You can drizzle some lime juice over the end product and serve along with buttered pav, steamed rice, jeera rice or any variety of Indian bread. 

• 1 cup soya granules
• 1 cup coriander leaves
• 1/4 cup mint leaves
• 2 green chilies
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/3 cup yoghurt, whisked
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/2 cup green peas (I used frozen peas)
• 1/4 cup dill leaves, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 2 green chilies, slit

          Boil sufficient water in a pan and add the soya granules. Cover and keep aside for 10 minutes. Drain and keep aside. 

         Blend together 2 green chilies, coriander leaves and mint leaves along with some water into a smooth paste. Keep aside. 

         Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onion till light brown. 

         Now add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder mixed with 2-3 tbsp. water. Mix well and sauté till the oil separates.

         Add the whisked yoghurt and keep stirring continuously for 2 minutes.

          Add the drained soya granules, salt, the green paste and green peas. Give it a nice mix and add 1/2 cup water. Simmer on a medium flame till the gravy comes to a desired consistency.

          Now add the chopped dill leaves, garam masala powder and 2 slit green chilies. Mix well and serve with any form of Indian bread, steamed rice or jeera rice.

              Heat oil in a pan & sauté the onion till light brown. 

Now add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder & cumin powder mixed with 2-3 tbsp. water. Mix well & sauté till the oil separates.

      Add the whisked yoghurt & keep stirring continuously for 2 minutes.

                 Add the drained soya granules, salt, 

                  the green paste and green peas. 

Give it a nice mix and add 1/2 cup water. Simmer on a medium flame till the gravy comes to a desired consistency.

Now add the chopped dill leaves, garam masala powder & 2 slit green chilies. 

Mix well & serve with any form of Indian bread, steamed rice or jeera rice.

Shosha Soya Torkari (Cucumber & Soya Chunks Curry - Bong style)

 

          Shosha Soya Torkari is a simple Bengali homemade style recipe that can be enjoyed with either steamed rice or chapati / paratha. Along with cucumber, I also added few soya chunks to make the dish a bit healthy and protein rich. This curry is absolutely light on the stomach and can be had guilt free. Very few ingredients along with few basic spices went into making it and it is diabetic friendly too. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this regional curry. 

• 4 cucumbers. diced
• 1/2 cup soya chunks
• 2 tbsp. mustard oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 dry red chili, broken
• 1/2 tsp. panch phoron 
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. cumin powder
• 2 slit green chilies
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Soak the soya chinks in warm water for 10 minutes. Then squeeze out the water and set aside. 

          Heat oil in a pan. Temper with dry red chili, bay leaves and panch phoron. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Then add the ginger and stir fry for a minute.

          Add the cucumber, turmeric powder and cumin powder. Mix everything well and sauté for 4-5 minutes on high flame.

          Now add the squeezed out soya chunks and salt to taste followed by slit green chilies. Cook for another 4-5 minutes.

          Add 1/2 cup water and cook, covered till all the moisture has evaporated and the cucumber turns tender.

          Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve with steamed rice or chapatti. 

Heat oil in a pan. Temper with dry red chili, bay leaves & panch phoron. Sauté for a few seconds. 

                      Then add the ginger and stir fry for a minute.

Add the cucumber, turmeric powder & cumin powder. Mix everything well & sauté for 4-5 minutes on high flame.

                     Now add the squeezed out soya chunks & salt to taste 

                 followed by slit green chilies. Cook for another 4-5 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup water & cook, covered till all the moisture has evaporated and the cucumber turns tender.

                   Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

                    Serve with steamed rice or chapatti. 

Lobia Masala (Black Eyed Beans / CowPeas Curry)

 

          This is a very delicious and a popular recipe from North India, especially Punjab. They are also known as black eyed beans, cowpeas or chawli and is especially relished with any form of Indian bread. I enjoy having it for breakfast with poori / paratha, accompanied with some onion, green chilies and lime wedges. It is both nutritious and wholesome. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this simple delicacy.

• 1 cup lobia (black eyed beans)
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 2 dry red chilies
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 2 green cardamoms
• 4 cloves
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder (opt)
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• coriander leaves & lime wedges to garnish

          Pressure cook the soaked beans in 2 & 1/2 cups water for 5-6 whistles or till tender.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with the cumin seeds, dry red chilies, cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms and bay leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Then add the onion and Fry till light brown.

          Now add the ginger-garlic paste and all the dry spices (except garam masala powder and salt) mixed with some water. Fry till the oil separates. 

          Add the tomatoes and keep frying till it is mashed.

          Add the boiled Lobia and salt to taste. Simmer on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes. 

          When done, add garam masala powder and ghee.  

         Garnish with coriander leaves & serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, poori, paratha, naan, tandoori roti or chapatis. 

                    Soak the Black eyes beans overnight.

Pressure cook the soaked beans in 2 & 1/2 cups water for 5-6 whistles or till tender.

Heat oil in a pan & temper with the cumin seeds, dry red chilies, cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms & bay leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

                     Then add the onion and Fry till light brown.

Add the ginger-garlic paste & all the dry spices (except garam masala powder & salt) mixed with some water. Fry till the oil separates. 

                   Add the tomatoes & keep frying till it is mashed.

Add the boiled Lobia & salt to taste. Simmer on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes. 

                     When done, add garam masala powder and ghee. 

                   Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, poori, paratha, naan, tandoori roti or chapatis. 

Soya Chunks Ka Salan (Hyderabadi style)

 

          Soya Chunks Ka Salan in Hyderabadi style is a great substitute to any non-veg. dish. Soybean is generally very healthy and nutritious. It is a great way to incorporate some protein in your everyday diet. It makes for a perfect side dish with either chapattis / parathas, jeera rice, steamed rice, plain biryani or pulao. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing dish.

• 1/2 cup of soya nuggets
• 1 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• 1 tbsp. sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp. roasted peanuts
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1 tsp. tamarind paste mixed with 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp. mint leaves, chopped
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Dry roast the coconut and sesame seeds till golden in color. Set aside to cool. Then grind along with the roasted peanuts into a fine powder. Keep aside.

          Soak the soya nuggets in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Then squeeze out the water and keep aside. 

          In a small bowl, take the ginger-garlic paste and all the dry spices, except salt and make a smooth poste by adding some water. Keep aside.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Allow it to splutter. 

          Then add the onion and curry leaves and sauté till light brown. 

          Now add the spice paste and stir fry till the oil separates. 

          Add the ground coconut powder and sauté on a low flame till well combined.  

          Now add 1 cup water, tamarind water and salt to taste. Give it a stir and bring it to a boil. 

          Cover and simmer for 4-5 minutes on a low flame or till the gravy slightly thickens. 

          Then add the soaked soya nuggets and simmer, covered till the oil separates from the gravy.

          When done, garnish with coriander leaves and mint leaves.  Serve with any form of rice preparation or Indian bread.

Heat oil in a pan & temper with mustard seeds & cumin seeds. Allow it to splutter.

                Add the onion & curry leaves. Sauté till light brown. 

           Now add the spice paste & stir fry till the oil separates. 

Add the ground coconut powder & sauté on a low flame till well combined.  

Now add 1 cup water, tamarind water & salt to taste. Give it a stir & bring it to a boil. Cover & simmer for 4-5 minutes on a low flame or till the gravy slightly thickens. 

Then add the soaked soya nuggets & simmer, covered till the oil separates from the gravy.

           When done, garnish with coriander leaves & mint leaves.  

           Serve with any form of rice preparation or Indian bread.