Paneer Pulao

பன்னீர் புலாவ் (Paneer Pulao)

Paneer pulao is a ‘one pot rice dish’ made by cooking fragrant basmati rice with aromatic spices, herbs & paneer. Paneer is an all time favorite of my family. Most of the kids like paneer so we easily choose this as feast for family get together. I always prefer homemade paneer for this recipe.

Ingredients for Paneer Pulao

Rice – 1.5 cup
Paneer – 200g/ (Milk – 4 cups for homemade paneer)
Onion – 1
Tomato – 1 big
Green chilli – 5-6
Ginger garlic paste – 1/2 tbs
Ghee – 1 tbs
Sesame oil – 3 tbs
Cashews – 1 tbs
Cilantro – 1 tbs
Mint – 1 tbs
Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder – 1/2 tsp
Bay leaf – 2
Cinnamon – 1 piece
Cardamom – 2
Clove – 2
Fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp
Salt as needed

Directions

Pre-preparation

Soak the basmati rice in water for 30 minutes.
Take paneer in a mixing bowl and pour 1/2 tsp of oil.
Add chilli powder, coriander powder, 1/2 tsp of ginger garlic paste and salt.
Let the paneer to coat very well with the spices.
Leave the spiced paneer for 30 minutes.
Place the paneer in a pan with little bit of oil.
Sauté them in low medium flame until mild color changes in both sides.

Make Pulao

Heat oil in a pressure cooker and keep the flame medium.
Add whole spices bay leaf, fennel seeds, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon.
Sauté them a little and add chopped onion then ginger garlic paste.
Stir them and add green chilli, cashews and 1/2 tbs ghee.
Also add chopped tomatoes then salt.
Mix everything well and add 1.5 cup of water.
When the water starts boiling add the basmati rice.
Then add cilantro and mint mix everything well.
Finally add fried paneer and give a gentle mix.
Close the pressure cooker and change the flame into high.
Put weight on the cooker and change the flame into medium low.
Pressure cooker the pulao for 8 minutes or until one whistle.
Wait for gas to release before opening pressure cooker.
Add 1/2 tbs ghee and gently mix the pulao.
Paneer pulao ready.
Serve the paneer with raita/ veg gravy/ cauliflower manchurian.