From my Kitchen Diary

Today I am posting a few soya recipes. Soya beans are very rich in protien, but many people don't prepare them.  I never used to  like the taste of  soya beans earlier ,because I did not know how to make it taste good. After making some experiments I started preparing delicious dishes .Every one relishes these in our house. I am sharing some recipes with friends.

Soya Vada

Ingredients:-

1.Soya nuggets (chunks)          100 gms

2.Urad Dal(Lentils)   1 cup

3.Ginger paste          1teaspoon

4.Onion                    1 medium 

5.Salt              As per taste

6.Green chillies       2 or 3

7.Coriander Leaves    1/4th cup

8. Curry leaves            1 twig 

9.Oil for frying

Method:-

Soak the dal in water for three to four hours.

Soak the nuggets in water  15 to 20 minutes.

Grind the dal in a mixi.When  it is half done squeeze the nuggets and grind along with the dal.

Chop the onion, green chillies, coriander leaves and curry leaves finely and add to the dal,nugget paste.

Add  the ginger paste and salt.

Keep the oil in a deep bottomed  karhai(wok). When the oil is sufficiently warmed ,make round vadas and fry them in medium hot fire, so that they are cooked  inside and are crisp. 

Serve hot with any sauce/ chutney of your choice. 

                           I serve it with Salsa and Basil Dip

  They can  also taken with Sambaar or can be  put in Curd as Dahi Vadas.

 Mousakka

Mousakka is a Greek dish.Many of the ingredients  for this dish are unavailable  locally. So I  experimented and  modified it according to our palate. 

Ingredients:-

1.Soya nuggets (granules) 1 cup

2, Green peas               1 cup

3.Potatoes                    4 medium size, boiled and mashed.

4.Cheese grated           1/4 cup

5 All purpose flour      4 tbsp

6.Milk                          1 cup

7. Oregano                   1/4 tbs

8.  Olive oil               4 tbsp

9. Salt                     As per taste

10. Pepper powder  1/4 teaspoon

11. Onion                 1 big

12.Tomato                 2 medium

Method

 Boil the soya granules in a  little water. Discard leftover water.

In a karhai add 2 tablespoons oil ,add finely chopped  onion and saute till the onions turn pink. Now add ginger,garlic paste,stir for a couple of minutes and  add chopped tomatoes.  Add peas and stir for a few minutes. Now add the squeezed granules, oregano, salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Remove from the fire and keep aside.

Take the mashed potatoes and add salt.

Prepare white sauce. In a Wok put two spoons olive oil.Add flour and on slow fire,  stir till the flour is slightly pink.Add grated cheese and the milk. Stir till it is thick. Remove from the fire.

Now the setting has to be done. Preheat the oven.Take an oven proof  bowl.In the bottom spread a layer of soya peas combination.Next layer mashed potatoes.3rd layer repeat soya peas. Last layer,  add white sauce. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes.Garnish with tomatoes/coriander leaves/onions. Serve piping hot.

If you want to make a non vegetarian dish then instead of soya granules add mince chicken/lamb meat.

Note:  this dish is better served hot.