Paneer & Veg Pulao.
This one is sure a crowd pleaser. I usually make this as one of the party dishes when I entertain guests at home. It is accompanied with any raita of choice, fresh onion salad, a few lemon wedges and papads for a delicious and complete meal experience. I also consider this as a perfect option for busy days when a simple dish like this completes the meal.
How to make it –
Rinse 1 cup basmati rice a few times and soak it in water for 30 mins. Cook the rice in 2.5 cups of water until they are tender, not mushy.
Meanwhile prep the veggies – 1/3 cup sliced onions, 2/3 cup chopped tomatoes, 2-3 green chillies, 2 tsps crushed ginger and garlic, 1/3 cup of boiled fresh corn and fresh green peas (or frozen), 1 medium sized carrot chopped, 1 large capsicum sliced and paneer cut into cubes.
In a pan, heat a tbsp of oil and mix in 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and 1/4 tsp red chilli powder and 1/4 tsp salt. Add in the paneer cubes and sauté until the paneer is slightly browned from all the sides. Turn and flip the paneer gently while cooking it.
Heat 2 tbsps groundnut oil or any cooking oil. Sizzle 1 tsp cumin seeds and 1.5 tsps jakhiya seeds (optional). Add 4-5 curry leaves, green chillies and crushed ginger garlic. Sauté for 1 min.
Add the sliced onions and let them cook until they turn translucent. Add tomatoes, carrots and capsicum and 1.5 tsps salt or to taste. Cook for 3-4 mins or until the tomatoes turn mushy. We don’t like crunchy veggies in this pulao but if you do add the vegetables after the tomatoes are cooked through. Also add in the green peas and corn.
Mix in 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1.5 tbsps pav bhaji masala, 2 tbsps chopped fresh mint leaves and 1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves and let it cook for a min.
Gently mix in the sautéed paneer and cooked rice. Cook them covered on low flame for 2-3 mins. Finish off with 1 tsp lemon juice.
Garnish with more fresh mint.
Enjoy!!!
If you like this Paneer & veg pulao recipe, do let me know in the comments below. You can also connect with me on my Instagram and Facebook handles.
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Paneer & Veg Pulao
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Basmati Rice
- 200 Gms Paneer
- 1/3 Cup Onions - sliced
- 2/3 Cup Tomatoes - chopped
- 2-3 Pcs Green chillies - chopped
- 2 Tsps Ginger garlic - crushed
- 1/3 Cup Fresh corn and green peas - boiled or frozen
- 1 Pc Carrot - medium sized
- 1 Pc Capsicum - large sized, sliced
- 3 Tbsps Groundnut oil or any cooking oil
- 1 Tsp Cumin seeds
- 1.5 Tsps Jakhiya seeds (optional)
- 4-5 Pcs Curry leaves
- 1.5 Tsps Salt or to taste
- 1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
- 1/2 Tsp Red chilli powder
- 1/2 Tsp Sugar
- 1.5 Tbsps Pav bhaji masala
- 2 Tbsps Fresh mint leaves - chopped more to garnish
- 1/4 Cup Coriander leaves - chopped
To sauté paneer
- 1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 Tbsp Oil to sauté paneer
- 1/4 Tsp Red chilli powder
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
Instructions
- Rinse 1 cup basmati rice a few times and soak it in water for 30 mins. Cook the rice in 2.5 cups of water until they are tender, not mushy.
- Meanwhile prep the veggies - 1/3 cup sliced onions, 2/3 cup chopped tomatoes, chopped 2-3 green chillies, 2 tsps crushed ginger and garlic, 1/3 cup of boiled fresh corn and fresh green peas (or frozen), 1 medium sized carrot chopped, 1 large capsicum sliced and 200 gms paneer cut into cubes.
- In a pan, heat a tbsp of oil and mix in 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and 1/4 tsp red chilli powder and 1/4 tsp salt. Add in the paneer cubes and sauté until the paneer is slightly browned from all the sides. Turn and flip the paneer gently while cooking it.
- Heat 3 tbsps groundnut oil or any cooking oil. Sizzle 1 tsp cumin seeds and 1.5 tsps jakhiya seeds (optional). Add 4-5 curry leaves, green chillies and crushed ginger garlic. Sauté for 1 min.
- Add the sliced onions and let them cook until they turn translucent. Add tomatoes, carrots and capsicum and 1.5 tsps salt or to taste. Cook for 3-4 mins or until the tomatoes turn mushy. We don’t like crunchy veggies in this pulao but if you do add the vegetables after the tomatoes are cooked through. Also add in the green peas and corn.
- Mix in 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1.5 tbsps pav bhaji masala, 2 tbsps chopped fresh mint leaves and 1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves and let it cook for a min.
- Gently mix in the sautéed paneer and cooked rice. Cook them covered on low flame for 2-3 mins.
- Garnish with more fresh mint.Enjoy!!!
