Rice with Soya Chunks

Soya - Very nutritive, healthy, great source of protein, reduced cholestrol, reduces heart related risks etc.. - Isn't that what Moms keep saying and all Soya ads keep pointing out on Television?? Well - I agree but if you keep all the benefits aside, don't you find Soya chunks amusing? These round chunks have a wonderful soaking capacity - tiny granules soaked in Salt water, increase in size just like the organisms in one of the Sci-fi movies and moreover suck in every bit of the masala that you add to your dish, making themselves more 'powerful' and the tastiest bit of the dish! A very smart piece of food with a brain and strategy of its own! And that forms the base for my uncanny habit of picking them up with a fork and eating them without finishing the dish in which it had been put. Sorry! Haven't been able to change that habit over years - the soya chunks once cooked are juicy, full of the masala, chewy and very tasty. A rather bland combo but Soya Chunks when cooked with Rice like a Biryani or Pulao, tends to mix and wrap itself well with flavored Rice and is an easy to cook dish on the days you really don't wanna cook! So, here is what you need:

You definitely need - Soya - 1 Cup ( Use Chunks)
1 cup - Basmati Rice
1 Tbsp - Peas
1-2 pieces of clove, cinnamon, cardamom
1 Bay Leaf
1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 tsp - Salt, Red Chilli Powder, Sugar
203 Green Chillies - sliced thinly
1 Onion - sliced thinly
1 Tsp Cumin Seeds
2-3 cups of water

Wash the Basmati Rice in flowing water and soak it for 20mins in a vessel. Take a bowl of water, add salt and add the Soya Chunks. Let it be immersed in water for 15mins.

In a skillet, add 1 Tbsp of Oil, add the cumin seeds, Bay Leaf, Onion, Clove, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Peas, Green Chillies and stir fry till the onion is slightly brown. Now, add the Red Chilli Powder, Sugar and Salt and add the Soya Chunks. Stir for another 3-4 minutes. Add the rice and Saute for another 1-2 mins. Add 2-3 cups of water and cover the rice with a lid. Let the rice cook for 6-10mins. Once the water evaporates, remove the skillet from heat and serve the Rice with Raita or semi-sweetened Curd.