Paneer Pulao - One pot dish

First of all a very Happy New Year to everyone. 2020 was tough for all of us, but let's hope 2021 brings in a lot of good health and happiness for all of us. I personally want to thank each one of you for taking the time to read what I write and also trying my recipes, sharing the feedback and giving me all the love. 

A quick one pot dish is best when it comes for cooking on busy weekdays. It's a life saver when you don't have to time for an elaborate cooking, but still don't want to compromise on eating healthy. This quick paneer pulao is healthy delicious dish that can be made just under 30 mins and makes for a great lunch or dinner option. It is a simple and quick meal you can make for lunch, dinner or for your kid's tiffin box. Loaded with the goodness of veggies and protein from paneer, its definitely a power packed meal for both adults and kids. Let's see how it's done. Step by step images are given for your reference. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cup Basmati rice
• 4 cup water
• Paneer cubes, 1 cup or 150 -200 gms
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 small tomato chopped 
• 1/2 cup carrot sliced
• 1/2 cup peas 
• Half inch cinnamon stick
• Half teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2 bay Leaves (tej patta)
• 2 green cardamoms (elaichi)
• 1 black cardamom (moti elaichi)- Optional 
• 2 green chillies slit
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic (or use ginger garlic paste)
• Salt to taste
• Half teaspoon garam masala or biriyani masala 
• 2 tbsp Ghee
• Oil 
• Some coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:

1. Wash and soak rice in water for at least 15 minutes.
2. Add some oil in a pan and roast paneer cubes till they turn brown in colour.
3.  Remove paneer and keep aside.
4. In the same pan, add some ghee in the pan and roast the whole spices like bay leaf, cardamoms till they begin to crackle.
5. Add in the chopped garlic or ginger-garlic paste  along with slit green chillies and saute them for a minute. 
6. Add chopped onions and saute till translucent . 
7. To this, add in the tomato, carrots, peas along with Garam Masala or biriyani masala and saute for another 5 mins. 
8. Add in some salt at this stage and the roasted paneer which you had kept aside. Mix well. 
9. Drain water from rice and add it in the pan. Slowly mix everything well
10. Add 4 cups of hot water and let it come to a boil.
11. Lower the flame to medium and cover the pan till the rice is cooked and water is completely absorbed. 
12. Sprinkle coriander leaves on the pulao and serve with some Achari Raita or any raita of your choice. 

If you are looking for other such easy one pot recipes do check out our One pot recipes on the blog. 

If you happen to make this, do tag me on Instagram and use #lynnskitchenjournal 

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Notes: 

• Rice - water ratio is 1: 2. So if you take 2 cups rice, measure water in the same cup twice as the rice. so for 2 cups rice, its 4 cups water. 
• You can use only oil and avoid ghee or add only ghee and avoid oil as per your liking
• I add biriyani masala to give it a nice flavour. But its optional
• If you do not have the veggies mentioned in the recipe, just avoid adding those and proceed with the next steps