Soya chunks are one of the most useful vegetarian ingredients in an Indian kitchen. They are inexpensive, they keep well in the pantry and they take on the flavour of whatever they are cooked with.
Granvia Soya Chunks are made from pure defatted soya flour, with 52% protein as declared on the pack. They are 100% vegetarian.
Step one: soak and squeeze
- Bring water to a boil with a pinch of salt.
- Add the soya chunks, turn off the heat and leave them for 10 to 15 minutes until they double in size.
- Drain and rinse them in cold water.
- Squeeze each handful firmly to remove the water. This is the most important step: a well squeezed chunk soaks up masala instead of tasting watery.
Recipe 1: soya chunks curry (soya kalia)
Fry a bay leaf, cumin and a little cinnamon in oil. Add sliced onion and cook until golden, then ginger garlic paste, tomato, turmeric, chilli, coriander powder and salt. When the oil separates, add the squeezed chunks and a cubed potato, pour in a cup of water and simmer for 10 minutes. Finish with garam masala. In Bengal this is often called soya kalia and served with rice or roti.
Recipe 2: dry chilli soya
Toss squeezed chunks with a little cornflour, salt and pepper and pan fry until the edges crisp. In a hot pan, stir-fry garlic, onion and capsicum, add soy sauce and chilli sauce, then the chunks. Toss for a minute and finish with spring onion.
Recipe 3: chilli garlic soya with atta chowmein
Make the dry chilli soya above, then toss it with boiled Granvia Atta Chowmein and a few crisp vegetables. Atta Chowmein is made with whole wheat flour, with no maida, and the soya chunks turn a quick noodle into a complete vegetarian meal.
Quick answers
- How long should I soak soya chunks?
- Soak them in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes, until they double in size, then rinse and squeeze out the water.
- Why do soya chunks taste rubbery or bland?
- They were not squeezed well. Squeezing out the soaking water lets the chunks absorb the masala.
- How much protein do Granvia Soya Chunks contain?
- Granvia Soya Chunks declare 52% protein on the pack.