Malabar pola: A vegetarian version of the iftar snack, with soy chunks

Irani pola or Malabar pola is a popular non-vegetarian snack, that's sought after at iftar parties too. There is also a fruity version of it, called kayapola.

However, if you have some soy chunks at home, you can also prepare a succulent, spicy vegetarian version of it. And that too, without sweating much in the kitchen. A healthy meat alternative, soya chunks can be eaten daily in moderation. Here's the simple recipe of soya-based Malabar pola:

Ingredients
100 gms soy chunks
2 tbsp corn flour
1 tbsp Kashmiri chili powder
½ tsp garam masala
1 cup shallots
2 green chilies

Preparation
Cook the soy chunks in water mixed with salt
Squeeze out the water from the cooked soy chunks
Marinate them with corn flour, Kashmiri chili powder, garam masala and salt
Mix well
After ten minutes, fry the marinated soy chunks in hot oil
Heat oil in a pan
Sauté ginger and garlic
Add shallots and green chilies
Add green bell peppers too
Sauté well
Into it add turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder and garam masala
Add fried soy chunks and chopped coriander leaves
Mix well
To prepare the batter, take 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 ½ cups milk, ¾ cup sunflower oil, ½ tsp pepper powder, salt and a pinch of turmeric powder in the mixer jar
Blend well
Transfer the batter into a bowl
Into it add baking soda and baking powder
Mix well
Heat a pan and place a baking tray or a sauce pan on top of it
Grease the baking tray
Add the soy chunks masala
Pour the batter
Add another layer of soy chunks masala
Cook for at least an hour on low flame (you could also bake in the oven)
Take the Malabar pola off the baking tray only after it has cooled down
Meanwhile, heat some oil in another pan
Flip the pola and cook the top part for at least two minutes
Cut into slices after the pola cools down
Tasty vegetarian Malabar pola is ready.