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  1. Home
  2. Indo-Chinese Side Dishes
  3. Chilli Soya Chunks Recipe

Chilli Soya Chunks Recipe

Updated: Nov 7, 2022 · Published: Jul 20, 2009 by nags · This post may contain affiliate links · 82 Comments

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Chilli soya chunks is an Indian-Chinese vegetarian recipe with soya chunks which are also called meal maker, a great protein-source for vegetarians. Learn how to make chilli soya chunks using this easy recipe.

Chilli Soya Chunks RecipePin

The husband loves soya chunks. After paneer and mushrooms, this is probably his next favourite thing. Although I used to dislike the bland taste of soya chunks when I was younger, I have acquired a taste for it now. So I am always on the look out for new soy chunks recipes even though I tend to stick with my tried and tested soya chunks masala recipe most of the time.

Table of Contents

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  • Chilli Soya Chunks Recipe
    • Ingredients  
    • Instructions 
    • Notes
  • A couple of other recipes using soya chunks below:
  • Soya chunks biryani
  • Soya chunks cutlets
Chilli Soya Chunks RecipePin

The recipe for chilli soya chunks is similar to chilli paneer but I don't do a marinade + frying method for this and instead, focus on making the gravy Indian-Chinese style and the rest just comes together. Served best with vegetable fried rice, but it went really well with roti too.

chilli soya chunks recipePin

Chilli Soya Chunks Recipe

nags
Chilli soya chunks recipe, an easy vegetarian Indian Chinese recipe using soya chunks or meal maker. Perfect with fried rice or noodles.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Vegetarian Sides
Cuisine Indian Chinese
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup uncooked dry soya chunks
  • 1 1 cup onion chopped into medium squares
  • 1 cup tomato puree
  • 2 green chillies adjust to taste
  • ½ cup green capsicum cut into squares
  • 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste use freshly minced ginger and garlic for best taste
  • 3-4 dry red chillies adjust to taste
  • 2 tablespoons soya sauce
  • 1 tablespoons tomato sauce / ketchup or hot and sweet sauce
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 2 tablespoons spring onions or scallions for garnishing
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil, add ½ teaspoon salt and the soya chunks to it. Keep covered and let it soak for 30 mins.
  • Heat the oil in a pan and add the dry red chillies.
  • To this, add the onions, capsicum, green chillies and ginger-garlic paste.
  • Fry for 2-3 minutes on medium heat until the red chillies turn brown and the onions get transparent. Take care not to burn the chillies. Turn off heat.
  • When ready, drain the soaked soya chunks in a colander and reserve the water.
  • Squeeze them gently to remove excess water and add to the pan. The soya chunks should be very soft at this stage.
  • Turn the heat back on. Add salt and toss well, letting everything cook together for about 5 minutes and until well combined.
  • Takes the reserved water from soaking the soya chunks and adjust it to get 1.5 cups water in total, adding more plain water if required
  • Add the soya sauce, pureed tomato and tomato sauce to this water and mix well.
  • Turn the heat to high and add this to the pan with the soya chunks.
  • Mix well on high heat for 30 seconds and then lower the heat to medium-low. Cook closed for 8-10 mins until the gravy cooks down and the soya chunks absorb some extra moisture.
  • When done, adjust salt. Garnish with the spring onions.

Notes

There are a few different ways to hydrate the soya chunks. I find soaking in boiled hot water to be the easiest and least hands-on method. Share in comments below if you have a better technique.
The quantity of sauce in this recipe can be varied according to personal choice. Since I served it with roti, I wanted more gravy than normal. Make sure you adjust water accordingly because as you keep this dish longer, the soya nuggets will absorb more and more water making the dish drier than you may wish it to be. If you find the gravy too watery, mix 1 teaspoon corn flour (corn starch) with some 2 teaspoons water and add to the dish, heat it through, and serve warm.
Soya chunks tend to have a distinct smell. If you are not a fan of that but love the texture and taste, add some minced garlic to the hot water while soaking them.
Another trick to remove the raw smell of soya chunks is to add 3-4 teaspoons of milk to the hot water they soak in. I personally haven't tried this one so let me know if you do!
 
chilli soya chunks recipePin

You can make a similar recipe with mushrooms and potatoes too. Leave a comment if you try the recipe and have any notes to share, I'd love to hear from you.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    January 07, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    This really looks gr8 in the pics. I am trying this now, will let u know the outcome.

    That was a simple process of explaining the procedure of cooking. Thanks for the Recipe Nags...

    BKRAJ

    Reply
  2. Anonymous

    November 06, 2009 at 3:02 am

    Hi!
    After reading about the "stink" in the soya nuggets, I HAD to write what I do, incidently it is one of the favourite dishes of my kids!I always buy at least 5 boxes at a time!
    Here is what I do:
    I put a teaspoon of ghee in a heated pan and then put the soya nuggets in it,lower the heat and keep stirring till they turn golden . Remove ,and soak them in hot salted water for a few mimutes,then squeeze out the water ,put in a plate,change the water,squeeze, do this 2 -3 times( normal,tap water will do ).No smell,tastes delicious.......use in pulao or potato curry with garlic/tomato gravy.
    Hope this helps!
    Meena Sarin

    Reply
  3. Nags

    November 06, 2009 at 3:21 am

    Thank you so much Meena! That's very very useful 🙂

    Reply
  4. Nags

    August 13, 2009 at 2:43 am

    SL - do drop a line if you tried it 🙂

    Reply
  5. Anonymous

    August 12, 2009 at 9:44 am

    I purchased soya chunks for the first time last week and was looking for a recipe, your recipe looks really scrummy so i will give it a try,

    Thanks

    SL 🙂

    Reply
  6. Namratha

    July 23, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    Its the other way around here, I love it and he hates it! This is a good way to use Meal Maker.

    Reply
  7. Manasi

    July 23, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    My hubby likes soy chunks too, I'm afraid I am the one who has trouble with the texture 😉

    Reply
  8. Mahimaa's kitchen

    July 23, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    i love soy chunks too.. but never tried it this way. looks yummy!!

    Reply
  9. Aparna

    July 23, 2009 at 9:32 am

    I am the only one here who likes soya chunks, so I reserve it for days when I have to cook only for myself (very rare). 🙁

    My daughter loves Indian Chinese so maybe, just maybe she will like this too.

    Reply
  10. Seena

    July 23, 2009 at 2:56 am

    The term "chilly" goes well with everything, alle? I tried few and loved all..! looks lovely Nags! 🙂

    Reply
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