Soya meat curry made with soya chunks and tomato-based spice mix that includes onions, ginger-garlic, green chillies curry powder, turmeric and red chilli powder.

Soya meat is also known as meal maker, veggie chunks, soy meat, soya chunks, soya nuggets, and TVP.

This soya curry will make a healthy substitute for any type of meat dish or a thick curry-flavoured vegetarian dish.

If you have been disappointed with your soya curry then you will want to give this Sri Lankan version a try.

What is soya meat?

I’m not going to give you a detailed description, just keep in mind that TVP, soy chunks or soya nuggets which stand for textured vegetable protein is what we call soya meat.

They are basically made from soy proteins and come in different shapes and sizes for our convenience.

These soy meat nuggets/meal maker is a textured vegetarian protein that is the closest you’ll come to a meat texture that is completely plant-based.

You can learn how soya meat(meal maker)is produced in this linked article.

What to serve with soya meat curry.

• Rice dishes to serve with soya meat curry.
  • Sri Lankan Yellow Rice(turmeric rice)
  • Regular white rice cooked over a stovetop.
  • Indian fragrant ghee rice(nei choru).
  • Frozen mixed vegetable rice pilaf.

• Other vegetarian curries and other Sri Lankan dishes to serve with soy meat curry.
  • spicy green beans stir fry(bonchi thel dala).
  • pol sambol(Sri Lankan Coconut Sambol).
  • Sri Lankan spicy Dry Potato curry(ala theldala)
  • Sri Lankan Potato curry(ala kiri hodi).
  • cabbage curry with coconut milk
  • Jackfruit-coconut sambol(kos mallum).
  • Bitter gourd fry(Sri Lankan karawila sambol)
  • gotu kola(pennywort salad)sambol.

• Salads to serve with soya meat curry.
  • Parsley salad(sambol)with coconut.
  • Ash plantain fry salad
  • coconut and beetroot salad(mallum)
  • Sri Lankan fried eggplant/brinjal salad.

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FAQ: Sri Lankan soya meat curry.

• How many flavours are there for the soya meat?

• • If you head on to the aisle where you’ll find these packs, you’ll notice, there are many varieties of flavours.
    from jackfruit, prawn, and chicken to ambulthiyal.
  • Because of the sponge-like texture of the meal maker, soya meat(meal maker)can be turned into one of your favourite seafood, meat or vegetarian dishes.
  • Knowing how to use the spice powders in the soya curry is what’s going to make the difference in the dish becoming a favourite or not with your family. 

• Can I use the sachets in the soy meat(meal maker) pack?
  • I’m not sure I can answer these questions for you, some say they have MSG as a flavour enhancer and I’m not sure how true this is.
  • choosing to use these sachets is your decision. 
  • But the soya meat curry recipe given here can be made with or without the sachets.
  • To those of you who want to use the sachet, I will mention in the recipe instructions at which stage you should add the flavoured sachets.

• Do I use the sachets? 
  • Sometimes.
  • As much as I would like to say”NO”, there have been times I have used the sachets just so that I can finish up with the cooking.
    For this recipe, I’m going to make the spice mix from scratch.

• How I make my soya chunk curry and why it’s a favourite with my family.
  • A few years back, I served soya meat to one of my cousins visiting us,
  • I clearly remember his reaction to it and how he was reluctant to serve the curry, I asked him to try it and if he doesn’t like the curry, I’ll fry him an egg.
  • He tried the soya curry, his exact words were, “If someone makes the soya like how you’ve made, I’ll definitely finish the whole thing”.
  • So I know the way I make the curry is good(not bragging).

Why?

Because I spend a few extra minutes getting the thick gravy done before adding the soya nuggets.

keep in mind that soya chunks(meal maker) turn into sponges when they are soaked in hot water and if you get the gravy thick gravy for the soy meat and the seasoning correct, You’ll have the tastiest soy meat curry of your preference.

So here’s my take on how to cook soya curry.

Utensils/appliances needed.

Knife and chopping board

Medium-sized bowls.

Two Medium-sized pans

More soya meat curry recipes.

• Sri Lankan devilled soya meat curry.

• More protein-based dishes
  • Tofu curry(vegetarian and vegan curry).
  • Teriyaki tofu(easy tofu recipe).

RECIPE DIFFICULTY- LITTLE CARE IS NEEDED.

The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

Ingredients to make soya curry

2 cups of water

4 tablespoons of oil

3 red dry chillies(optional, substitute with 1 teaspoon of red chilli flakes)

1 green chilli sliced thin

1 large onion sliced thin

A sprig of curry leaves(substitute with a bay leaf)

1 tablespoon ginger and garlic paste

1 large tomato cut into wedges

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 and 1/2 tablespoons of curry powder(try making with Jaffna curry powder for a change)

1/2 teaspoon chilli powder(increase to 1 teaspoon or more as per your need)

1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup(add 1 more tablespoon to give more flavor)

1/2 cup of coconut milk

1 soya meat packet(2 packs for a family of five)

Salt to season

Sri Lankan soya meat curry.

Regarding quantity.

A packet of soya meat is sufficient for 3 individuals with single servings.

I usually have to make 2 packs for the family (5 individuals with multiple servings).

If you are cooking 2 packs of soya meat, double all ingredients on the ingredient list.

How to prepare the dry soya meat for cooking.

Boil two cups of water in a pan.

Once the water is boiled, remove the pan from the stove(be careful here).

Add a teaspoon of salt followed by the dry soya chunks.

Close the pan with a lid and leave the soya meat in for 5 minutes or until the chunks have expanded and taken the texture of tiny sponges.

Place the pan in a sink and drain the excess water until you are left with the soya chunks.

Run cold water for a few seconds through the veggie chunks to remove heat. 

Take a handful of the soya, squeeze and squeeze until you remove water from them.

Take care not to burn your hands while doing this with the remaining heat from the water you are squeezing out. set aside.

How to cook soya curry.

In a separate pot, over medium heat, pour in the oil(4 tbsps).

Add dry red or green chillies(2-3), onions(1 large), curry leaves(a sprig/ substitute with a bay leaf), ginger-garlic paste(1 tbsp) and tomato(1 medium).

Cook the ingredients for 7-10 minutes or until the onions turn slightly golden and the tomato wedges become easy to crush with your wooden spoon.

Reduce heat if you notice the ingredients sticking to the pan but continue cooking over low heat.

Once the ingredients in the pan turn soft, add turmeric(1/2 tsp), curry powder(1 and 1/2 tbsps), chilli powder(1/2 tsp), and salt to season and combine all ingredients well.

Finally, add the tomato sauce(1 tbsp).

Mix all the ingredients in the pan well and make sure the spices are not sticking to the pan.

Check the taste and make the necessary adjustments to suit you.

You can add more curry powder(1 teaspoon more)if you find the curry taste is not coming through.

Pour in the coconut milk(1/2 cup, thick milk), gently stir and let the gravy thicken over low heat.

Once the gravy cooks for 5 minutes, add the soya chunks.

Mix well, cover halfway with a lid and let the curry slow simmer for another 15-20 minutes or until the gravy thickens and changes colour.

Cook until the gravy slightly coats the soya chunks.

Season with salt if necessary, remove from heat and remove from the stove.

Serve with your favourite rice and curry dishes.

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