Growing up, I was in awe of my neighbor’s daughter who was just good at everything I loved doing. She could knit, cook, direct plays, choreograph dances, and overall a very warm and beautiful person inside and out. I have learned many things from her. It was she who would make Nutrela Soya Chunks Pulao. Back then in India, it was marketed as a meat alternative for vegetarians and very soon became popular in Indian households. We would devour it every time she made it. She even taught my mom this rice recipe. I still follow her recipe whenever I make this pulao and thank her every time! It is a by-product of extracting soybean oil. Once the oil has been extracted, the remaining defatted soy flour is cooked under pressure, extruded into various shapes and sizes (you may see it as crumbles, flakes, chunks, or strips) then dehydrated. It has a protein content that is equal to that of meat. It is quick and also easy to cook. When cooked, it resembles a meat-like texture and they are soft, juicy, and chewy. Since they don’t have any flavor of their own, they absorb other flavors easily. Soya nuggets have protein that is almost equal to meat with no fat as in meat. There are many recipes that you can cook with TVP but my favorite is Soya Chunks Pulao. It is one of the easiest Indian biryani/pulao recipes that you can make using this versatile vegan meat alternative - meal maker! Rice - Whenever I am making pulao, biryani, or fried rice, I prefer using Basmati rice because it is light, has a fluffy consistency, and the grains remain separate rather than clumped together. Soaking them 30 minutes before cooking helps remove any starches from the surface of the grains which tend to make the cooked rice stickier. Also, Basmati is gluten-free and low in fat. Veggies - I have used onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. I also like to add spinach and green peas to this vegan biryani sometimes. You can add or omit any veggies you want. Spices - Cumin seeds, garlic, ginger, Jalapeno, or green chilies are some common aromatics that help bring out the flavors of this rice dish. Whole spices - Bay leaf, cloves, and cinnamon are what you need. Spices in any form add rich flavor to the dish without adding any calories, fat, sugar, or salt. Ground spices - Biryani masala, garam masala, and ground turmeric. You can skip Biryani masala if it’s unavailable to you. Cilantro is added as a garnish for the aromatic finish to this meal maker biryani. You can also add lemon juice on top.
This Nutrela soya chunks pulao also makes a perfect lunch box recipe and is very good for growing children as it is rich in protein. Vegan rice recipes like these are loaded with flavors and spices making this meal maker biryani very appetizing and satiating. It is also one of the easiest TVP recipes that you can make! Feel free to add more veggies like carrots, green peas, beans, mushrooms, etc, or skip some if you don’t have any. But do add onions and tomatoes. You can either use jalapenos or Indian green chilies. You can also add some mint leaves as a garnish for that extra zingy flavor. You can follow this TVP recipe and make Paneer Pulao.
