Paneer Pulao is a very simple, nutritious and flavorful dish which is made by roasting paneer cubes in ghee and then cooking them with vegetables, rice and aromatic spices . Paneer Pulao is a one pot meal which goes well with raita (spiced yogurt) , pickle or papads (poppadoms). This is a mildly spiced side dish which is great for get togethers , fantastic in kids lunch boxes and also makes a great week night dinner when you are short on time.
Just follow the recipe below to make a very fluffy pulao in which all the rice grains will be separate and not sticky at all . You can add any vegetable you like!
Course: Main/Side Cuisine: Indian Servings : 2-3
Ingredients :
- Basmati Rice: 1 cup (washed)
- Cloves: 4-5
- Black peppercorns: 3-4
- Green cardamom: 3
- Black cardamom: 1
- Cinnamon : 1 inch stick
- Cumin seeds: 1tsp
- Bay leaf: 1
- Peas: 1/4 cup
- Ginger: 1/2 inch, chopped
- Garlic: 2-3 cloves, chopped finely
- Green chilli: 1-2 chopped
- Potato: 1 medium sized, cut into cubes
- Carrot: 1 medium sized, chop into small cubes
- Cauliflower: 1/4 head , cut into small florets
- Onion : 2, sliced
- Paneer : 100 Grams, cubed
- Butter: 1tbsp
- Ghee: 1 tbsp
- Lime juice: 1/2 tsp
- Salt: according to taste
- Garam masala powder: 1/2 tsp
Method:
- Rinse the basmati rice and keep them aside.
- Crush ginger, garlic and green chilli to a paste in a mortar- pestle.
- Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a non stick kadhai , add paneer cubes and fry till paneer cubes are slightly golden from all sides. Don’t over fry as they will become dense and rubbery.
- Take them out on a plate and keep aside.
- Add butter to the same kadhai and add cumin seeds, cloves, black pepper corns, bay leaf, green cardamom and black cardamom. Let them crackle for few seconds.
- Add ginger, garlic and green chilli paste and fry for 10-15 seconds.
- Next, add sliced onions and saute until the onions starts to get lightly golden.
- Now , add all the vegetables and fry for 3-4 minutes on medium low flame. Don’t brown the vegetables.
- Add washed rice and fry for 3-4 minutes. ( Don’t add water now).
- Now , add fried paneer pieces.
- Next, add 1 and 3/4 cup of water and mix nicely.
- When water starts boiling, add 1/2 tsp of lime juice, salt and garam masala powder.
- Let the water come to boil again.
- Cook covered on medium to low flame for 9-10 minutes. Don’t stir in between. Make sure the lid is tight and no steam escapes from sides.
- After 10 minutes, switch off the flame but don’t remove the lid and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, remove the lid and fluff the pulao with a fork.
- Serve hot with raita and pickle.
- Enjoy!!