This salad is also known as Soybean Choila. It’s a Nepalese style traditional dish. If you like Choila, it would also be worth to see my Chicken Choila and Lamb Choila recipes.
It’s a good idea to include some plant-based protein source in your diet even if you are not a vegan to maximize the number of amino acids you consume. It takes many different amino acids to make a perfect protein source.
What are soybeans / soy chunks?
Soya chunks are made using fat free soy flour. They are fat free because the oil in soybeans is extracted to make the soybean oil. These chunks, as the name implies, are also a good food source if you are following a low-fat diet. Being fat-free makes it low in calories and high in protein, a healthy type of food.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why I love this recipe
- Loaded with plant protein.
- Few Ingredients. As long as you have soy chunks, you can adjust the other ingredients.
- Quick to make.
- Energy booster. This spicy dish helps you keep moving on a tiring afternoon.
Protein and calories
Soy is high in protein. There’s 36g of protein in 100g raw soybeans, making it an excellent alternative to meats. Before proceeding with this recipe, make sure you are not allergic to soy.
One serve of this Garlic Soybean Salad has about 12g of protein in just under 160 calories. That’s very low in calories.
Ingredients needed
- Soybeans. Aka soy chunks.
- Spices. Grab all the spices that you like together with some chilli flakes or chilli powder. Don’t forget the garlic.
- Green leaves. Slallots, garlic leaves, coriander leaves, and all that.
How to make Garlic Soybean Salad
This is an overview of how to make this recipe. Full ingredients & instructions with step-by-step photos are in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Preparation
- Soak the soybeans in boiling water for about 10 minutes.
- Microwave the tomatoes for about 2 minutes.
- Mash the garlic and chop all the green leaves and the onion.
Step 2: Roasting soybeans
- Squish out the water from the soybeans and cut them into half.
- Roast them in a frying pan with a little bit of oil.
Step 3: Mixing
- Put everything in a mixing bowl and mix well.
- Your Garlic Soybean Salad is ready to serve.
Recipe tips
- Make sure the soybeans are soaked well. Otherwise they will be very rubbery to chew.
- You can add some edamame if you have.
- Bonus: Browse this Soya Chunks Curry recipe from Hebbar’s Kitchen.
Storage instructions
- To store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe card
Garlic Soybean Salad (Spicy)
Ingredients
Instructions
Preparation
- Put soya chunks in a bowl and pour boiling water in it. Cover the bowl and put on side for 10 to 15 minutes.In the meantime-Cut the onions in small pieces, smash the garlic to make textured paste. Cut the shallots, garlic leaves, and coriander leaves. Microwave the tomatoes for about 2 mins. if you are using the big tomatoes you can air fry them as well.
Roasting
- Squish all the water from soy chunks and cut each piece in half.Heat up a large pan and put the olive oil. Then add the soy chunks and fry them until they turn golden.1 tbsp olive oil, 100 g soy chunk
Mixing
- Put the roasted soy chunks in a large mixing bowl. Add all the other ingredients and mix them well.100 g tomato, ¼ cup onion, 1 tbsp garlic paste, 1 tbsp garlic leaves, 1 tbsp shallots/spring onion, 1 tbsp coriander leaves, ½ tsp cumin powder, ½ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp chilli flakes, 1 tsp salt, 1 slice lemon, 1 tbsp olive oil
- Enjoy it with a bowl of rice, rice flakes (chiura), bread, or on it's own.
Nutrition
*Originally published on May 2023, updated on Jul 2025
This is my all time favorite dish. Going to try soon.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you for trying. This is also one of my favorites 🙂
This mouth watering dish is full of flavors. I skipped the chilli part and it was so delicious. Thank you for sharing step by step recipe.
Thank you Sangita 🙂