Name: Dhaba Style Aloo Soya Pulao
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 150 g Basmati Rice, washed and soaked; 50 g Textured Soy Protein Chunks, nutri/mealmaker, soaked, squeezed, and halved; 1 medium Potato, peeled and cut into large chunks; 1 large Onion, sliced; 1 medium Tomato, chopped; 2 tbsp Indian-Style Yogurt, whisked; 1 tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste, fresh; 1 tsp Garam Masala, robust punjabi blend; 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder, adjust to taste; 2 tbsp Cooking Oil, or ghee; 1½ tsp Salt, to taste; 300 ml Water, for cooking

1 hr 5 mintotal

45 min hands-on20 min hands-off

Prep 20 min · Cook 25 min

Serves: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Spice: Medium

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Method

Heat oil or ghee in a pressure cooker over medium flame. Add the sliced onions and fry until they are golden brown.
Add the ginger garlic paste and sauté for 30 seconds until the raw smell goes away.
30 sec
Lower the flame slightly and add the whisked curd, stirring continuously so it doesn't curdle.
Once the curd blends in, add the chopped tomatoes, garam masala, red chilli powder, and salt. Cook until tomatoes are mushy and oil separates.
Toss in the potato chunks and the squeezed soya chunks. Sauté them well in the masala for 2-3 minutes so the soya absorbs the spices deeply.
2–3 min
Add the soaked and drained basmati rice. Stir gently for a minute to coat the rice grains.
Pour in the water. Stir well and check the seasoning.
Close the cooker lid and cook on high heat for 1 whistle, then reduce the heat to low and cook for another 3 minutes.
3 min
Turn off the heat. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Open, gently fluff, and serve hot.

How to tell it's done

Fluffy rice grains with soft, melt-in-mouth potatoes and juicy, heavily spiced soya chunks.

Getting it right

Tip

Frying the squeezed soya chunks directly in the heavily spiced masala (bhunao) before adding water prevents them from becoming bland and spongy.

What to serve it with

This robust, hearty dhaba-style meal needs only simple accompaniments like sliced onions, green chilies, and plain curd.

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