Soya Chunks Briyani

Ingredients

• 1 cup soya chunks
• 1 ½ cup Basmati / Briyani rice
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 2 tbsp curd
• 1 big onion sliced
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• ½ inch cinnamon
• 2 cardamom
• 4 cloves
• Oil
• Salt to taste
• Water

 To be ground to a fine paste

• 3-4 green chillies
• 1 cup coriander leaves
• ½  inch ginger piece
• 10 garlic flakes
• 10 to 15 mint leaves

 For rice

• 1 inch cinnamon
• 2 cardamom
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cloves
• 5 mint leaves
• 6 to 7 black peppercorns
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• Few coriander leaves 

Method 

1. Add the soya chunks to boling water and add salt and mix. Turn off the flame and close the lid and set aside for 10mins. Squeeze the water out of the soaked soya chunks .
2. Marinate the soya chunks with garlic paste, 2 tsp of ground masala and curd and keep aside.
3. Wash the rice and soak for 20 mins. Cook the rice with lots of water along with cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, cloves, mint leaves, curry leaves, pepper corns , coriander leaves and salt. When the rice is half cooked drain the excess water and let the rice cool for some time.
4. Heat oil in a pan add cloves, cinnamon and cardamom  and fry.
5. Add the sliced onions and roast for some time when the onions are slightly cooked add the remaining ground masala and roast till oil seperates.
6. Add marinated soya chunks, turmeric powder, salt and garam masala and cook till the gravy thickens.
7. In a heavy bottom pan place half of the soya chunk masala and top it with half the rice. Repeat the step for one more time.
8. Close the lid of the pan and let it simmer for 15 mins on very low flame.
9. Serve hot with raita or curd.