Meal Maker – Masala Rice

Meal Maker (aka Soya chunks) has got a lot of health benefits such as lowering cholesterol levels, prevent heart diseases, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, control hypertension, and helps in weight reduction. It has got high protein content and is a vegetarian substitute for meat.

Planning & Pre-Preparation: 15 mins
Soaking Time: 20 mins
Cooking time: 10-12 mins.

Ingredients

Ingredients 1:

• Basmati Rice - 1 Cup

• Water - 1.5 Cups

• Meal Maker/Soya Chunks - 1/3 Cup

• Ghee - 2 tsp

• Bay leaf/Tej patta – 1

• Cloves/Lavang - 2-3

• Cardamom/Elachi - 1-2

• Cinnamon Marathi Moggu / Kapok seeds – 1

• Pepper - 1/2 tsp

• Fennel Seeds/Saunf - 1 tsp

• Onion - 1/4 Cup

• Carrot - 1/4 Cup

• Capsicum - 1/4 Cup

• Green Peas - 1/4 Cup

• French Beans - 1/4 Cup

• Cauliflower Florets - 1/4 Cup

• Sweet Corn - 1/4 Cup

• Salt - Per taste

• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

• Coriander/Dhaniya Powder - 1 tsp 

Ingredients 2 - Masala Paste: 

• Mint/Pudina - Handful

• Tomatoes (Chopped) - 1/4 Cup

• Green Chillies - 2-3

• Ginger - 1tbsp

Directions

• Rinse and soak basmati rice in water for about 20 mins. After 20 mins, drain off the water and keep it aside.

• Soak meal maker/Soya Chunks in hot water for about 20 mins.

• When soaked completely, drain & squeeze off the water from soya chunks and keep aside.

• To a mixer grinder, add Ingredients 2 – Masala Paste ingredients & grind into a fine paste.

• In a pressure cooker, add ghee, then add spices such as Bay leaf/Tej patta, Cloves/Lavang, Cardamom/Elachi, Cinnamon Marathi Moggu / Kapok seeds, Pepper and Fennel Seeds/Saunf.

• Add onions and fry until translucent.

• Now it’s time to add vegetables such as Carrot, Capsicum, Green Peas, French Beans, Cauliflower Florets and Sweet Corn.

• After adding vegetables, add drained meal maker/soya chunks. Cook on a low flame for about a minute.

• Then add masala paste & mix it thoroughly.

• Add the drained rice and water. Mix well.

• Add salt (as per your taste), Turmeric Powder, and Coriander/Dhaniya Powder to the rice.

• Cover & cook on high flame for 3 whistles.

• Delicious Meal Maker masala rice is ready. Serve with Raita.

Points to be noted

• To get fluffy rice consistency, add 1.5 cups of water to 1 cup of soaked rice. Different rice brands may require different levels of water. Kindly read packet instructions for water quantity. I have used India Gate Basmati Rice – Super variety.

• Do not release the pressure. Let the pressure automatically settle down to get the right rice texture.

• Once the pressure settle down, open the cooker and use a fork or backside of a spatula to gently mix the rice in order to retain its fluffiness.