Indo-Chinese soya chilli

Name: Indo-Chinese soya chilli
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Indian recipes
Ingredients: 1 vegetable stock cube; 1 litre freshly boiled water; 150g dried soya chunks (from large supermarkets); 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 3-4 dried red chillies; 1 tbsp coriander seeds, roughly crushed; 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste (or ½ tbsp each finely chopped ginger and garlic); 1 red onion, roughly chopped; 2 green chillies; 1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped into cubes; 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped into cubes; 1 tbsp tomato purée; 1 tsp cornflour; 3 tbsp light soy sauce; 2 tbsp tomato ketchup; 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce; ½ tsp MSG (optional; from Chinese or Japanese stores); 2 spring onions, finely sliced at an angle; Handful coriander leaves

By: Aktar Islam

Published: 27 Mar 24
Updated: 27 Mar 24

Test kitchen approved

Chef Aktar Islam loves to make this flavour-packed vegan chilli at home. The Indo-Chinese chilli is made with soya chunks, which are perfect for absorbing the flavours of the Indian spices, umami-rich soy sauce, ginger and sweet chilli sauce.

Check out more plant-based dinner recipes.

Serves 4
Hands-on time 25 min, plus 1 hour soaking

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Ingredients

1 vegetable stock cube
1 litre freshly boiled water
150g dried soya chunks (from large supermarkets)
3 tbsp vegetable oil
3-4 dried red chillies
1 tbsp coriander seeds, roughly crushed
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste (or ½ tbsp each finely chopped ginger and garlic)
1 red onion, roughly chopped
2 green chillies
1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped into cubes
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped into cubes
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tsp cornflour
3 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
½ tsp MSG (optional; from Chinese or Japanese stores)
2 spring onions, finely sliced at an angle
Handful coriander leaves

Method

Put the stock cube in a large heatproof bowl, then pour in the boiling water from the kettle and stir to dissolve. Add the soya chunks, cover and set aside for 1 hour.
Heat the oil in a high-sided frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the dried chillies and coriander seeds, cook for 1 minute, then add the garlic and ginger. Cook for a minute until fragrant, then add the onion, chillies and peppers. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes until the onions soften slightly.
Add the tomato purée and cook out for a minute. Drain the soya chunks (reserving the stock) and squeeze them to remove excess liquid, then add them to the pan too and turn the heat up to medium. Continue to stir-fry for another 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, measure out 350ml of the leftover stock, then whisk in the cornflour. Mix in the soy sauce, ketchup, chilli sauce and MSG (if using). Turn the heat up to high, then pour in the stock mixture, mixing well. Bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes or until the sauce reduces enough to coat the soya chunks nicely. Season to taste with salt (if needed), then serve with the spring onions and coriander scattered over the top.

Recipe from April 2024 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 333kcals
Fat: 11g (0.8g saturated)
Protein: 20g
Carbohydrates: 33g (24g sugars)
Fibre: 9.2g
Salt: 3.2g

delicious. tips

Aktar says: “Classic Indian restaurants in the UK offer dishes based on Indian flavours that have little to do with actual food in India. Chinese food in India is similar – an Indian interpretation of Chinese cooking. Today Indo-Chinese is a cuisine in its own right, and very popular. You have bold Indian spices mixed with massive hits of umami from soy and sweetness from other sauces. You can make this dish with chicken or paneer, but soya chunks are great as they absorb the flavour so well.”

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Indo-Chinese soya chilli

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