Soya Chunks Fry also known as meal maker fry is a delicious Indian pakora like snack. This soya chunks fry is made with cooked soya chunks, chilli powder, garam masala powder, ginger, garlic and curry leaves. Crunchy and flavourful crispy soya chunks makes a great party snack with drinks. In this blog post, Learn how to make crispy soya chunks fry and how to cook soya chunk properly with step by step pictures and video.
Soya Chunks Fry (Meal Maker Fry)
I should tell this, you will never know what you will learn from your siblings. I learned this recipe from my younger sister. Whenever I go my mom's place and ask her to do something for me, the first thing she do is this soya chunk fry. I love it so much, that I asked the recipe and adopted it to my taste. I added some curry leaves and coriander leaves for more flavours. It is a simple snack recipe.
What is Soya Chunks or Meal maker?
Soya Chunks also called as meal maker are made from defatted soy flour, which has had the oil removed. They are byproducts of the extraction of soybean oil and have a rough texture when dry.
When submerged in warm water or added to gravy, the texture quickly changes to soft and spongy. They are referred to as vegetarian meat because their nutritional profile is comparable to that of several non-vegetarian foods. Soya chunks are also very versatile and can be cooked to mimic the flavour of non-veg curries.
About Soya Chunks Fry
Soya Chunks are a healthy way to include protein in your kids and your family diet. It has a chewy meaty texture to it, usually I add it to korma, make biryani, cutlets, pulao, manchurian and recently I tried this chilli soya dish. You can check my other soya chunks recipe.
This soya chunks fry recipe is a delicious snack. It is similar to a pakora or pakoda. It is also known as soya chunks fry or vegetarian chicken fry. Spices like chilli powder, garam masala powder, curry leaves, coriander leaves is added into cooked soya chunks which makes it so flavourful.
Some recipe calls for adding spices into whole cooked soya chunks and fry them. But I like to grind the spices with the cooked soya chunks which makes the whole fry flavourful. This recipe is very easy with minimal ingredient which can be served as an Appetizer in your parties.
Similar Recipes
Watch Soya Chunks Fry Video
Soya Chunks Fry Ingredients
Soya Chunks - soya chunks also known as meal maker. It is a good source of protein. I used whole soya chunks which I cooked myself. Some people may find soya chunks to have a weird smell once cooked. Adding a splash of milk to the cooking water takes off the raw smell from soya chunks.
Ginger & Garlic - You can either use ginger garlic paste or use whole peeled ginger and garlic when grinding.
Spices - I used a combination of chilli powder, garam masala powder in this recipe. You can explore with different spices like cumin powder, chaat masala and amchoor.
Curry leaves & Coriander - these two when ground with soya chunks adds an earthy aroma.
Rice Flour - adding rice flour to the soya chunks when grinding gives a thick texture to the mixture which makes the soya chunks fry crispy.
Oil - use neutral tasting oil like canola oil, sunflower oil or groundnut oil for frying.
How to Cook Soya Chunks
Meal maker is one of my favourite I love it all time. But the one thing that turn me off is the smell which you get from it. To avoid that I cook soya chunks in such a way that the smell is no longer there.
Adding milk to the cooking water takes off the smell from it. This is a simple hack and it is very useful too. All you need is to add a splash of milk into the boiling water and cook soya chunks in that. Depending on the size of soya chunks, it will take more or less time to cook.
- 2 cups soya chunks
- 5 to 6 cups water
- ¼ cup milk
Heat milk and water in a sauce pan. Bring this to a good rolling boil. Add in the soya chunks and switch off the flame. Cover with a tight fitting lid and leave it aside for 15-20 mins. Strain it in a colander and wash it with lots of cold water. Now squeeze of the extra water with your hands. Squeeze to get as much water out of it. Set aside.
For making Cutlets, you can put soya chunks in a blender or food processor and pulse it for few times to make it coarse crumb. For biryani or korma, you can cut it in half and use it. You can use it as whole in gravies too.
How to Make Soya Chunks Fry (Stepwise Pictures)
Cooking Soya Chunks
1) Take water with a splash of milk in a sauce pan. Heat milk and water and Bring this to a good rolling boil.
2)Add in the soya chunks and switch off the flame. Cover with a tight fitting lid and leave it aside for 15-20 minutes. This step cooks the soya chunks well.
3)now the soya chunks is cooked completely.
4)Strain the cooked soya chunks in a colander.
5)Wash the soya chunks in plenty of water which cools the soya chunks and helps remove the smell from it.
6)Now squeeze of the extra water with your hands. Squeeze to get as much water out of it.
7)This is your cooked soya chunks. Ready to use in your dishes.
Grinding Soya Chunks
8)Take the cooked soya chunks in a blender. We are going to grind the soya chunks into a fine mixture. You can do this step in batches.
9)Grind the soya chunks till coarse mixture like this. Don't add water at this point.
Making Soya Fry Mix
10)Add in chilli powder, garam masala powder and salt. As mentioned earlier, you can add cumin powder, amchoor or chaat masala.
11)Add in ginger and garlic into the mixture. You can use ginger garlic paste or whole chopped ginger and garlic.
12)Add in coriander leaves and curry leaves into the mixture. Even though this optional, it gives wonderful aroma.
13)Add in rice flour. Instead of rice flour, you can use cornstarch too.
14)Now all the ingredients are added into the blender. Time to blend this.
15)You can pulse the mixie few times and grind this to a coarse mixture. Don't add water, just pulse and grind it until just combined.
Shaping Soya Chunks
16)Take the ground soya chunks mixture in a bowl. The mixture has to be thick.If it is too crumbly you can sprinkle some water and mix well. If it is too wet, add some rice flour and mix.
17)Take the soya chunks mix and shape it into small balls like the shape of the soya chunks. This step should be easier, if your soya chunks mixture is thick.
Frying Meal Maker Fry
18)Heat oil for deep frying, drop the soya chunks in small batches and fry till golden brown. Don't fry on too high heat, fry on medium high heat so the soya chunks cooks all the way through.
19)Once the soya chunks is fried, strain using a slotted spoon. Place the strained soya chunks on some paper towel.
20)Serve hot with ketchup.
Crispy Soya Chunks Fry is ready to serve.
Expert Tips
- Once soya chunks is cooked, strain and squeeze the extra water completely to remove the smell. Also this prevents the mix getting too moist when ground.
- You can add any spice mix that you prefer.
- Instead of rice flour, you can use cornstarch.
- When frying, make sure you fry it on medium heat. This will ensure the soya chunks gets cooked all the way through.
FAQ
What is Soya Chunks / Meal Maker?
By themselves, they have no flavour or smell, providing every cook with a clean slate. The boiled nuggets are a delight to cook with because of their spongy texture, which is ready to absorb any flavours you dunk them in.
Are meal makers healthy?
It is a great source of calcium and isoflavones from a nutritional standpoint. Additionally, it can aid in lowering the risk of conditions like heart disease and some types of cancer. Add soya chunks to dishes you already adore to incorporate soy meal maker into your diet.
What does meal maker contain?
A nutritious meat extender made from defatted soy flour, a by- product of the extraction of soybean oil, soy chunks, also known as meal maker, are a textured or texturized vegetable protein. Defatted soy flour is a by-product of the extraction of soybean oil.
More Soya Chunks Recipes to try
📖 Recipe Card
Soya Chunks Fry Recipe | Meal Maker Fry Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
- Deep Frying Pot
- Mixing Bowl
- Slotted Spoon
Ingredients
For Cooking Soya Chunks
- 2 cups Soya Chunks | Meal Maker
- Water as needed to cook soya chunks
- ¼ cup Milk
For Soya Chunks Fry
- 2 cups Soya Chunks cooked
- 2 tsp Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala powder
- 1 tsp Salt to taste
- 2 sprig Curry Leaves
- ¼ cup Coriander Leaves chopped
- 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 4 tbsp Rice Flour
- Oil for Deep frying
Instructions
- Heat milk and water in a sauce pan. Bring this to a good rolling boil. Add in the soya chunks and switch off the flame. Cover with a tight fitting lid and leave it aside for 15-20 mins. Strain it in a colander and wash it with lots of cold water. Now squeeze of the extra water with your hands. Squeeze to get as much water out of it. Set aside.
- Take cooked meal maker in a blender and make them into a coarse mixture. Now add in all the ingredients except oil and grind again to a coarse mix. Don't add water when grinding.
- Take them in a bowl, divide into small balls like soya chunks.
- Heat oil for deep frying, drop the balls in and fry till golden brown on medium heat. Strain on some paper towel and serve with ketchup.
Notes
- Once soya chunks is cooked, strain and squeeze the extra water completely to remove the smell. Also this prevents the mix getting too moist when ground.
- You can add any spice mix that you prefer.
- Instead of rice flour, you can use cornstarch.
- When frying, make sure you fry it on medium heat. This will ensure the soya chunks gets cooked all the way through.
Nutrition
If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.
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Anonymous
Brilliant idea Aarthi. I was always tired of cooking the same way with soya chunks. I will definitely give this recipe a try. Thanks for such wonderful ideas.
sindhuja
Going to try this soon..thanks for tis wonderful healthy dish...arthi
Anonymous
Wow super idea
Alpa Devalia Naik
Thanx Aarthi for this healthy dish . Will try it soon .
Aarthi, I wanted to ask , is there search bar on the homepage to search any recipie / by main ingredient or name. I am facing trouble to search the recipe whenever I want to try some recipie, I have to go thru each page searching for it, it's waste of tym . Please advice how to search for recipie. Thankz
Aarthi
@Alpa Devalia NaikYes i have search bar. It is right above the post title.
Anonymous
Thank you. ..
Anonymous
Please upload jow to make idli batter...though it is simple one I cudnt make it perfect..so please help
Anonymous
Hi dont hv blender can I mix in grinder?
Anonymous
Im a big fan of ur recipes..... and getting gud name all dis credits goes to u..... Wow..... mouth watering recipe.... loved it a lot......
mani
Thank you
Aarthi
@Anonymousyes u can blend it in anything, the point is it should get crumbly
FLORA
thanks Aarthi fo such a easy recipe....most of all i like ur way of explaining...as v r just talking to each other
Anonymous
1 Glass Urad Dal
2 Glass Rice (Dosa/Idli Rice...Will workout with normal rice also)
Soak these two item separetely for atleast 6 hrs
Grind urad dal finely
And Grind Rice along with 2-3fist of cooked rice(this will make ur idli very soft)
Mix both batter together along with required salt. Leave for fragment over night. Morning mix the batter thoroughly and ur soft idli is ready
Gul AB
hey hi, just went through ur chilly soya recipe, the pics tempted me into trying it so even before reading the whole instruction i soaked the soya over night now i was wondering that will it taste bad or something if i soak it and make the mixture rather than cooking it as u did mention in the post and prepare the mixture. plz do reply, i dont know what to do.
Aarthi
@Gul ABYou put the soaked soya chunks in boiling water and cover it for few mins. Now drain it and squeeze all the water and use.
Anonymous
Briliant idea....love it
Anusha
Wow...!!dis gonna b my newyear spl dish.tanq Aarthi
Anonymous
When I dropped balls into oil they splitted into small pieces n spreaded in oil.Am not able to recollect them for frying again...What could b the reason?!
Aarthi
@Anonymousit is because you haven't added enough binding agent.add more rice flour.
Anonymous
It's superb
Anonymous
Any substitute for rice flour?
Aarthi
@Anonymousyou can use cornflour
shiga s
Hi... Instead of deep frying shall I prepare in paniyaram pan....
Aarthi
@shiga syes u can
Anonymous
How long to soak soya chunk?
Aarthi
@Anonymous you have to cook soya, check this
https://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/2012/04/how-to-cook-soya-chunks-how-to-prepare.html
Sheeba Alfred
Thnx for the receipe... But can I use besan in the place of rice flou????
Aarthi
@Sheeba Alfredyes u can use besan
Ash Win
I am making it now. Really looks mouth watering. What should go with this dish? Sauce, chutaney? Suggest the best that can taste good with soya chunks fry please ..
Aarthi
@Ash Winu can serve it with ketchup. or toss it in a chinese sauce like i made for my chilli paneer and serve with fried rice
Anonymous
Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sp
Hi, i was looking for a recipe to make use of the soybean paste i left after making soybean milk. I am lucky to find this, it is delicious! Thank you.
Ravichandra
Yummy... Just i love it....It looks delicious... and thank you for the Healthy, tasty & new recipe 🙂
srinivasan ramaswamy
aarthi this dish is nice bt i dont no to blend the soya chunks
Aarthi
check this
https://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/2012/04/how-to-cook-soya-chunks-how-to-prepare.html
Aanchal Misra
Hi its really tasty thnks aarthi
Unknown
Hi aarthi, it's great to see if blog,i just saw your recipes when my frnd shared it in her fb page .. it's abt biriyani I was tempted so then I went to know abt it when I entered in it was quite easy and delicious thank u for ur recipes sis really they r amazing keep going and especially this one a definite treat
Christopher Robinson
Tried this today.very tasty.thanks for the recipe
Unknown
Thank you for wonderful recipes
Anonymous
Can one brown the soya balls then bake instead of derp frying? At what oven temperature?
Anonymous
Hey.. when dropped the ball in the oil. It just mixed with the oil . I did add enough rice flour but compromised on the spicy level. Do you that that was the reason for the disaster :/ Me and My Family were looking for it 😭
C.
Wonderful:recipe! Easy and healthy!
Sudha
Can try for plain white veg.rice or tomaoto rice it should be best ...this fries goes well as a side dish for tomoto rice which my family love
Jimmy
Hello Aarthi... Recipe looks great!
Can you tell me How Many Grams is 2 Cups of Cooked Soya?
Sbgroupnepal
Hi there just found your article when I was looking for making Soya Chunks by ourselves at home. Thanks for sharing this very well-written and worth reading article. Wish to see more in the coming days.
Rishabbh
Hi Aarthi. Thank you for the lovely recipe. I did try to squeeze out all the water but after mixing all the ingredient I saw that my mixture was still wet, and I had to further squeeze more water to even form clumps. What else can I do to avoid this ?