An easy vegetarian soya granules recipe - this delicious stir-fry is made with lots of vegetables.
I posted the recipe for this soya granules fry recipe years ago as I was just starting with the blog. It had been one of the first times I had cooked it, but I've been making it lots and lots of times ever since.
I enjoy cooking with soya from time to time, and the two dishes I cook most of the time are this soya fry, the soya spaghetti, and the soy stew.
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Recipe ingredients
- The recipe goes fast, it's easy to make, and I always seem to have the ingredients in the house.
- I change the vegetables that I use according to what I have in the fridge or what is in season and we normally eat it with rice.
- I always keep the carrots and the bell peppers, because I always have those two vegetables in the fridge. But otherwise, I am flexible.
- The original recipe was made with broccoli florets and sugar snap peas, but the new pictures I've taken show zucchini slices and green beans. Both versions are delicious, so don't be afraid to swap the vegetables according to your taste and whatever you happen to have in the house.
- The carrots, zucchini, and peppers I use to make this soya fry are always fresh, but otherwise, when it comes to green beans, sugar snap peas, regular peas, broccoli, or cauliflower I often use frozen products.
What are soya granules?
Soya granules or soya chunks are textured soy protein or textured vegetable protein. They are defatted soy flour, a by-product of extracting soybean oil, used as a meat substitute, or as a more economical meat alternative.
The granules are very small and are mostly used as a substitute for ground meat, while the chunks are larger and are used to substitute larger pieces of meat.
However, whenever cooking with any of these products, I never actually try to replace any meat. I have my special soya granules recipes, which I like because they contain the soya products and not because they replace the meat.
How to use soya granules in recipes?
Soak:
- Soak before cooking. Always read the packet's instructions. The granules usually need to be soaked for about 10 minutes, while the chunks need up to half an hour, depending on their size. Larger pieces, like soya cutlets, might even need to be boiled for about 5 minutes.
- To make this dish, boil them shortly. This is necessary because they will only be cooked very shortly after being drained.
- Most packet's instructions recommend soaking in hot water, however, I always use vegetable broth, I feel it improves the taste of the final dish.
Squeeze:
- After soaking, drain well.
- Once cool enough to handle, squeeze them well in order to remove the excess moisture. The better you squeeze them, the better color and texture they will get when you fry them.
- A trick for squeezing the liquid out without having to wait too long for it to cool is to place it into a fine sieve in batches and press the liquid out of it with the help of a large spoon.
How to use them?
Soya granules or soya chunks are very easy to include in your meals. From stir-fries with vegetables to stews and sauces for pasta. You can make a very tasty kind of bolognese sauce for your spaghetti, you can use the granules to replace the meat in any kind of dish containing ground meat. You can add them to soups, or you can make patties.
I noticed that there are lots of Indian recipes out there using these products. As so many Indians are vegetarians, they have adapted lots of traditional Indian dishes to suit their dietary needs.
How to serve?
- Most of the time, I serve this soya granules recipe with plain boiled rice.
- However, Chinese egg noodles or vermicelli are very nice as well.
- The soya fry can be easily reheated.
More vegetarian main dishes
Recipe
Vegetarian Stir-Fry with Soya Granules
Ingredients
- 2 cups soya granules 150 g
- 3 cups vegetable broth 700 ml
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 inch ginger 2.5 cm
- 1 medium onion
- 2 medium zucchini Note 1
- 2 carrots
- 2 red bell peppers
- 2 scallions
- 5.5 oz green beans 100 g, defrosted, if frozen
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 5 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons sriracha or more chili sauce
- fine sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- Soak granules: Cover the soy granules with the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and let stand for about 10 minutes. Drain and squeeze out the excess liquid.2 cups soya granules/ 150 g + 3 cups vegetable broth/ 700 ml
- Chop the ginger and garlic very finely and pound into a paste.2 garlic cloves + 1 inch ginger
- Prepare the vegetables: Slice the onions finely. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and slice the halves. Cut the bell peppers and the carrots into fine strips. Cut the green beans into two or three pieces, depending on their size. Slice the scallions thinly, but keep the whites and the greens separated.1 medium onion + 2 medium zucchini + 2 carrots + 2 red bell peppers + 2 scallions + 5.5 oz green beans/ 150 g
- Mix the soy sauce, chili sauce, and sriracha.5 tablespoons soy sauce + 2 tablespoons chili sauce + 2 teaspoons sriracha or more chili sauce
- Stir fry vegetables: Heat the oil and saute the ginger-garlic paste for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the onions and fry until slightly translucent. Add the rest of the vegetables, except the greens of the scallions, and stir fry for about 5-6 minutes until they are starting to get softer.1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Add the soya granules and stir fry for about 2 minutes.
- Add the sauce, salt, and pepper to taste and let everything get hot, about 2-3 minutes.fine sea salt and pepper
- Sprinkle the stir-fry with the chopped scallion greens. Serve immediately with rice, egg noodles, or vermicelli noodles.
Evi says
This looks super delicious, Adina! I love all the colors here ๐
G says
I try to limit my soy intake bt this looks yummy! <3
Anca says
It's legal to sell soya from genetically modified crops in EU. While organic is better (for the environment), I don't see an issue with GMO crops. Although, as you say, it is a controversial subject. ๐
The stir fry looks fab and I think it must be delicious too.
angiesrecipes says
A healthy, quick and delicious stirfry!