SOYA KOFTA CURRY

I may cook and compile a couple of kofta curries in the blog. Actually, I love kofta.... any kind of. I consider it a good vegetarian side dish to go with rice or breads. Since my men are not vegetable lovers, I have to find out tricks to feed them veggies. They definitely would not want to eat a carrot or beans curry. If I mix them with some selective spices, make kofta balls and cook in a flavourful curry, serve with rice or Indian bread... they will eat. Should not we do this much for our loved ones? We should. My men are not bored of eating chicken / mutton in any form.... minced, bone on, boneless, I do not like cooking it regular. It concerns me giving them meat often. With this on my mind, I keep packets of soya, minced soya, paneer in stock. I try to make dishes with them as tasty as possible so they happily eat them. Preparing a kofta curry with minced soya was long on my list.... I did this Soya Kofta Curry with care, my men did not understand it is not a minced chicken kofta they are eating. Come, let us do this easy to make Soya Kofta Curry together.

          

INGREDIENTS :[for the kofta]

Minced Soya : 1big cup [I boiled and pasted the soy balls]
Potato : 1 [boiled & mashed]
Cumin Seed : 1/4tsp
Cumin Powder : 1/2tsp
Coriander Powder : 1/2tsp
Turmeric Powder : 1/2tsp

Dry Mango Powder : 1 tsp
Green Chilli : 2-3 [chopped]
Salt : As Required
Sugar : 1tsp
Oil : 1 tbsp

INGREDIENTS :[for the curry]

Onion Paste : 1 tbsp
Ginger Paste : 2tsp
Tomato Paste : 2-3 tbsp

Chopped Coriander : 1 tbsp
Cumin Powder : 1tsp
Coriander Powder : 1tsp
Red Chilli Powder : 1tsp
Turmeric Powder : 1/2tsp
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2tsp
Cinnamon Stick : 1two inch length
Green Cardamom : 2-3
Cloves : 2-4
Bay Leaf : 1
Sugar : 1tsp [optional]
Salt : As Required
Oil : 2 tbsp

METHOD :

Wash and soak the minced soya in hot water for 1/2 an hour. Drain the water completely, paste if you are using balls. Mash the potato adding a little of salt.

Heat the oil in a pan. Temper with the washed & chopped green chillies & cumin seeds.

Add the minced soya and mix well. Add the turmeric powder, cumin powder, dry mango powder, coriander powder, salt and stir well for 4-5 minutes.

Add the mashed potato, sugar and stir cook for 2-3 minutes. Transfer the dough to a plate. Let cool. Tear portions from the dough, shape into round balls, flatten.

I cooked the soya koftas in the microwave oven. Mine is a microwave convection oven, I greased an oven proof plate with oil and placed the koftas. I had placed the low height wired stool inside, placed the plate atop and cooked in microwave+grill option for 8-8 minutes.

Heat the oil in a wok, temper with a bayleaf, the cinnamon stick, green cardamoms, cloves. Once the whole spices would release a nice aroma, add the onion, tomato, ginger pastes. Fry them until brown.

Thereafter, you are to add the cumin powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt. Stir well for a minute.

Add one big cup of water and let boil for 3-4 minutes. Add the sugar and garam masala powder. Let boil for a minute. Switch off the gas oven.

Arrange the kofta balls in a serving bowl. Pour the gravy on them. Let the kofta balls soak in the juice. You are to wait for 1/2 an hour before serving.

Note : They taste the best a day after.