Being one of the richest sources of protein, it is surprising to note that soybeans are not used much in Indian cuisine. Many prefer the high-fat paneer to soybeans, which have a similar texture.
Here you can liven up your kitchen with 3 healthy soybean recipes from India.
There are three soybean recipes, Indian style, featured here:
- How to make Soya Manchurian ‘Indian – Chinese’ (an alternative to Gobi Manchurian)
- Soya Dosa: A healthy dish made from this South Indian variety of bread.
- Soy in Kofta Curry – Perfect for a weekend menu
1. Manchurian soybeans
Who says you can only taste Gobi Manchurian in restaurants? Well now there is a healthier alternative to this Indochinese recipe.
Ingredients
- Soy chunks – 1 small cup
- Maida – ½ tablespoon
- Cornmeal – ½ tablespoon
- Powdered pepper – to taste
- Aji-no-moto- 1 pinch
- Fine Minced Garlic – 10 pods
- Green chillies- 5
- Soy sauce- 1 teaspoon
- Pepper- 1
- Salt to taste
- oil for frying
- Scallions finely chopped- little
How to do
- Soak the soya chunks in hot water for 10 minutes.
- Then drain them to remove excess water and reserve.
- Mix well Maida, cornmeal, salt, pepper powder in a bowl.
- Mix water if necessary to obtain a dough shape, add the squeezed soybean pieces and fry them in oil and reserve the fried soybeans.
- Heat some oil in another kadai or frying pan.
- Add minced garlic, green chilies, minced bell pepper and sauté for a while.
- Add the soy sauce, aji-no-moto and a little water and cook for a while.
- Then add the fried soybeans and sauté for a while.
- Sprinkle chopped chives and serve.
2. Soy kofta curry
With simple ingredients and a simpler recipe, you could turn any boring cooking day with this soy kofta curry recipe.
Ingredients
- Soy granules- 1 ¼ cup
- Boiled Mashed Potatoes- 2
- tomato puree- 2 tablespoons
- Onion paste – 1 tablespoon
- Powdered pepper – 1 teaspoon
- Ginger and garlic paste – 1 teaspoon
- Coriander powder- 1 teaspoon
- Saunf fennel seeds) – ½ teaspoon
- Garam Masala powder – 1 teaspoon
- Turmeric powder – 1 pinch
- Salt to taste
- Oil- 1 tablespoon
- Coriander- To decorate
How to do / Method
- Mix the mashed potatoes, soy granules, salt and pepper powder in a bowl
- If the mixture is runny, mix in some corn/rice flour and then break into small pieces and fry in oil.
- Keep this aside.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the saunf, the ginger and garlic paste, the onion paste, the tomato purée and fry for a while.
- Then add pepper powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder, salt and cook for some time.
- Then add fried koftas or soy balls and stir for some time.
- Add fresh cream and cashew paste to add more flavor (optional)
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with chapathi, Rotis, Pulkas, Kulchas or Nan. You might even enjoy this with plain rice.
3. Soy Dosa
Ingredients
- Soy Chunks – 30
- Toor dhal (pigeon peas) – ½ cup
- Bengal gram dhal – ½ cup
- Rice – ½ cup
- Finely chopped fenugreek leaves – 1 cup
- Chopped onions – 1 cup
- Coconut milk – 1 cup
- Red chillies – 10
- Ginger – 1 small piece – finely chopped
- Saunf (fennel seeds) – 1 teaspoon
- Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
- Salt and Oil – to taste.
How to do / method:
- Soak the rice and dhals in water for about 2 hours.
- Remove this soaked mixture and add the red chillies, salt, ginger, saunf, cumin seeds and coarsely mash.
- Put the soybean pieces in hot water. Squeeze them and add them to the coarsely ground mixture.
- To this mass, add chopped onions, fenugreek leaves and coconut milk and mix well.
- Then heat a dosa tava, pour the batter like a dosa but a bit thick.
- serve with chutney