Soya Chunks Kurma | Meal Maker Kurma - Swasthi's Recipes (2024)

Soya Chunks Kurma also known as Meal Maker Kurma is a delicious South Indian dish of curried soya nuggets in a spicy and flavorsome kurma gravy. Kurma is the South Indian version of the North Indian/ Mughalai Korma and is a popular dish made with mixed vegetables or meat. This soya chunks kurma is one such variation from my Mom’s kitchen, where she would replace veggies and meat with soya chunks. This meal maker kurma goes well with flavored rice varieties like Pulao, Ghee rice, Jeera rice, roti, chapathi or paratha.

Soya Chunks Kurma | Meal Maker Kurma - Swasthi's Recipes (1)

This dish can be made ahead and in fact tastes best after resting for a few hours as in the case of meat. So you can very well prepare this 2 days ahead, refrigerate and then reheat to serve.

Soya chunks, known by different names such as Soya Nuggets, Soya Wadi & Meal maker is a vegetable textured protein made with defatted soya flour. As the name says, these are in the form of chunks and granules. The chunks are also known as nuggets and the granules as soya keema.

It is identified as a great mock meat in India and eaten in various forms such as curries, kebabs, burger patties, pakoras etc.

Since Meal maker is a highly processed food, it is ideal to eat this in moderation and wherever possible please use organic soya products only.

About Soya Chunks Kurma

Back to this soya chunks kurma, the base of the kurma is made with onions, tomatoes, coconut and white poppy (optional). In South India, most kurma recipes used poppy seeds for the texture and milk aroma it imparts to the dish.

For this post, I shot the pictures while I was in India in my Mom’s place so I used poppy seeds and fresh coconut. However I am not accessible to poppy seeds in Singapore so I always make this dish with coconut milk or just coconut & sometimes with a few cashews as well. For the replacement, you can also use plain yogurt that’s not sour.

To keep the recipe simple, I have not used any green peas or potatoes. But they add another layer of flavor to the dish so feel free to use half cup green peas or 2 medium potatoes (diced).

For more similar recipes
Soya chunks cutlet
Meal maker stir fry
Soya chunks curry
Meal maker biryani
Soya keema

How to Make Soya Chunks Kurma (Stepwise Photos)

Preparation

For the ingredient quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card. Gather all your ingredients and follow the steps here.

1. Add soya chunks to hot water and let them soak till they soften. Squeeze up the water and rinse them in water and squeeze off excess water. If desired you can chop each chunk to 2 pieces.

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2. Add soya, salt, ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, garam masala and lemon juice to a bowl and marinate the soya chunks. Keep this aside till we use.

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3. This step can be skipped if using yogurt or coconut milk alone for the kurma. If using poppy seeds, dry roast or sundry them till crunchy. Add poppy seeds or cashew nuts along with saunf to a blender jar and powder them finely first and then add the coconut and make a fine paste with little water. Set this aside. If you do not have a good blender, don’t use poppy seeds.

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Make Kurma Gravy

4. Heat a pan with oil, add bay leaf, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, shahi jeera or jeera and star anise. You can skip using star anise, if you don’t have.

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5. When the spices sizzle, add onions, chilies and fry till they turn golden.

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6. Add tomatoes. My tomatoes were not juicy, so I sprinkled little water and salt to soften them. Cook till the tomatoes turn mushy.

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7. Add the marinated chunks along with mint and coriander leaves. Fry till the raw ginger garlic smell vanishes, for about 5 minutes on a low to medium flame. I used a spoon oil to prevent them from burning at this stage.

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8. Add the ground coconut paste. If using yogurt, Pour it to a bowl first. Take a few tablespoons of the onion tomato masala to the yogurt, whisk it well. Pour that to the pot. Add saunf, garam masala and coriander powder to a blender jar and powder it, an easy way to powder little saunf.

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9. Add red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and fry again for 3 to 5 minutes or till you get a good aroma of the masala.

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10. Pour water as needed to get a gravy. Do not add too much water, it will thin down the soya chunks kurma. Check the salt and add if needed. If using only yogurt, you may not need much water. Cover and cook till the chunks are soft and the gravy turns thick enough to suit your taste. You will see traces of oil over the kurma when it is done.

Serve soya chunks kurma with biryani, pulao, phulka or chapathi.

Soya Chunks Kurma | Meal Maker Kurma - Swasthi's Recipes (12)

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Recipe Card

Soya Chunks Kurma | Meal Maker Kurma - Swasthi's Recipes (19)

Soya Chunks Kurma

Soya chunks kurma is south Indian dish made by cooking soya chunks in a Kurma gravy. Serve it over ghee rice, jeera rice, pulao or with roti, paratha.

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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes minutes

Cook Time20 minutes minutes

Total Time30 minutes minutes

Servings3

AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ½ cup onions finely chopped
  • 1 tomato medium sized , chopped
  • 1 to 2 green chili chopped
  • 1 tbsps coriander leaves chopped
  • 1 tbsp mint leaves / pudina, chopped
  • 1/8 tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • ¼ to ½ tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • Salt as needed
  • 2 to 3 tbsp Oil

To marinate

  • 1 cup Soya chunks / meal maker
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste or grated ginger garlic.
  • ¼ tsp garam masala
  • ¼ tsp red chili powder
  • Salt little
  • 1 tbsp Lemon juice

To grind (or ½ cup thick coconut milk or yogurt, refer notes)

  • 2 tbsp Poppy seeds or cashews (optional)
  • 2 to 3 tbsp Grated coconut
  • ½ tsp saunf / fennel seeds

To temper

  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ star flower / star anise (optional)
  • ½ tsp shahi jeera or cumin / jeera
  • 1 cinnamon stick / dalchini, small
  • 4 cloves / laung
  • 2 green cardamoms / elaichi

Instructions

  • Heat 3 to 4 cups water, add soya chunks. Switch off the stove. Leave them to soften for about 10 minutes.

  • Squeeze off the water and rinse them in lot of water. Repeat squeezing them. Make sure there is no water left in the chunks. If you desire you can cut the chunks to half or use them as it is.

  • Marinate them with 1 tsp ginger garlic paste, 1/4 tsp garam masala, 1/4 tsp red chili powder, salt and lemon juice. Set this aside until needed.

  • Chop onions, tomatoes, set them aside.

  • If using poppy seeds, dry roast them until crunchy. Powder them first with saunf and then add the coconut with very little water to make a thick paste.

  • Heat a pan with oil, add the dry spices.

  • When they begin to sizzle, add onions and green chilies. Fry till the onions turn golden.

  • Add tomato and fry till the tomato turns mushy. If needed sprinkle water to cook tomatoes.

  • Add marinated soya chunks, coriander and mint leaves. Fry everything well till the raw smell of the ginger garlic goes away.

  • Stir well to prevent burning. If needed use little more oil.

  • Add the ground coconut paste or coconut milk. (If using yogurt, mix a few tablespoons of onion tomato masala to the yogurt, whisk it well and pour it to the pot.)

  • Then add red chili powder, garam masala, coriander powder. Mix and fry well for about 3 to 5 minutes, till you begin to get a nice aroma.

  • Pour water just enough to make a good amount of kurma gravy. Adjust salt as needed.

  • Simmer and cook till you get the desired consistency of gravy, for about 5 minutes. You will see traces of oil over the kurma when the gravy is done.

  • Garnish soya chunks kurma with coriander leaves. Serve with rice or roti.

Notes

  1. The ingredients under “to grind” can be skipped and only yogurt can be used. If using yogurt, powder saunf and use it with the garam masala. To easily powder saunf, add it to a blender along with the garam masala and make a fine powder.
  2. Make sure you don’t use sour yogurt/ curd. It will ruin the dish.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts

Soya Chunks Kurma

Amount Per Serving

Calories 276Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 69mg3%

Potassium 241mg7%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 9g38%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 535IU11%

Vitamin C 16.5mg20%

Calcium 223mg22%

Iron 4.9mg27%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Soya Chunks Kurma | Meal Maker Kurma - Swasthi's Recipes (20)

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About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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Soya Chunks Kurma | Meal Maker Kurma - Swasthi's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Do soya chunks need to be soaked before cooking? ›

How long should soya chunks be soaked? Ideally they need just a 10 to 15 minutes soak to hydrate and soften them. But if you are someone having a trouble digesting protein, then soak them in luke warm water for 3 to 4 hours. Oversoaking in boiling hot water makes them too mushy.

What is the difference between meal maker and soya chunks? ›

Soy chunks are also called Meal Maker, Soya Balls, Soya nuggets or Soya Chunks. Meal Maker is a full-fledged source of protein-rich. Basically, soya chunks are made from defatted soy flour, a by-product of extracting soybean oil and are quite dense nutritionally.

Does boiling soya chunks reduce protein? ›

Cooked or raw, the amount of protein does not change. Your chunks have 50gm protein in them. The weight increase of your chunks is only because of water (or gravy) absorption.

Are soya chunks healthy? ›

Soya chunks are highly beneficial in more than one way, such as aiding weight loss, improving heart health, preventing the growth of cancerous cells, regulating hormonal imbalance in women, preventing the risk of osteoporosis, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and many more.

Is it necessary to wash soya chunks? ›

Going by the video, the chef shared that you need to soak soya chunks in water to get rid of the strong pungent smell they carry. Once, you soak them for about half an hour to forty-five minutes in water, just press them and squeeze out the extra liquid from them.

Can I eat soya chunks daily? ›

Health experts agree that soy chunks being dense in protein and low in carbs are a good option to include in the meals, but eating too much of it can cause hormonal imbalance and thyroid issues. Part of the problem is also due to soy chunks being highly processed and genetically modified.

Is there any disadvantages of eating soya chunks? ›

Soya chunks can have some unpleasant side effects, including diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common symptom of consuming soy products, as the high fiber and protein content can cause indigestion in some people. Additionally, soya chunks may contain additives such as sugar or salt that can contribute to an upset stomach.

Is soya chunks high in estrogen? ›

Soy is unique in that it contains a high concentration of isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that is similar in function to human estrogen but with much weaker effects. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and cause either weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity.

What is the disadvantages of meal maker? ›

Although it tastes similar to meat, many people doubt whether that nutrient is present. Meal Maker is good for the body. But if the same amount is taken in excess, men can have problems with sperm secretion. So according to the ancestral principle that food is medicine, we also eat rice maker in moderation.

Why bodybuilders don t eat soya chunks? ›

Soy has the ability to help the body produce estrogen. Your body makes estrogen from testosterone. If you start producing more estrogen, then you would be reducing your testosterone . If you are trying to add lean muscle mass, I'd generally say its not optimum.

Who should not eat soya chunks? ›

Soya chunks offer protein and fiber, but excessive intake can be harmful due to phytoestrogens that can disrupt hormonal balance, increase uric acid levels, and cause digestive issues. People with thyroid problems, gout, hormonal concerns, or soy allergies should consult a doctor.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating soya chunks? ›

A soy intolerance is when your digestive system has a hard time breaking down (digesting) soy. When you ingest soy, you may have symptoms such as gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain. A soy allergy is a type of food allergy that occurs when your immune system mistakenly triggers a defensive response to soy.

What does Ayurveda say about soya chunks? ›

The Ayurvedic Perspective

Energetically, it was considered heavy and dulling for the mind. It was generally believed that soy acts more like a nut than a bean and is therefore pacifying for vata. Still, because of its difficulty to digest and somewhat rajasic, or stimulating, nature, soy was rarely used medicinally.

Is soya chunks bad for cholesterol? ›

Although eating soy-based foods can slightly lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as the "bad" cholesterol, the American Heart Association has concluded that soy alone doesn't lower cholesterol enough to make a big difference in your health.

Is soya chunks good for hair growth? ›

That's why most hair care products contain soy protein. Promotes Hair Growth: Soy chunk has many minerals and nutrients like folic acid, vitamin B, potassium, iron and zinc required for healthy hair growth. Its high fat and low sodium content also aid in hair growth.

Can we just boil soya chunks and eat? ›

Soya chunks can be consumed by first boiling them and then incorporating them into several dishes like gravy, soup, and rice.

Can we eat raw soaked soya chunks? ›

In conclusion, while best soya chunks are a nutritious and versatile ingredient, it is generally not recommended to eat them raw due to the potential health risks. Cooking soya chunks thoroughly can help to make them more digestible and reduce the risk of illness from harmful bacteria.

Is soya chunks soaked in water? ›

Even though soya chunks come dried, they plump up quickly when you soak them in water. They become soft, fibrous, and spongy. The protein in soya chunks is almost as much as in real meat. Plus, they're low in fat and easy on the wallet.

Can we eat soya chunks by just soaking? ›

1 cup of soya chunks can provide me around 18–20gms of protein. You can eat it after soaking or make a curry and then eat it. In the 2nd case, the taste will be more good. They don't lose their protein when soaked, but when overcooked any food can lose its nutrients.

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