Paneer Fried Rice

Back to blogging after a long hiatus! Spending time with my Toddler after work seems to have taken precedence over my cooking interests these days :)
Hence I tend to look for simple recipes that does not take too much effort and cooking time. Paneer is one of our favorite and I always look forward to trying exciting recipes with it.This recipe is very close to the restaurant style Fried rice.If you have the veggies cut and the rice pre-cooked, this can be made in less than 15 mins.

Time:Making Time (15 mins)

Difficulty level:Very Easy

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice - 1 cup
• Mixed Vegetables (Carrots,Grean Peas,Cabbage,Beans,Capsicum) - 1 cup finely chopped
• Spring Onions - 1/2 cup finely chopped 
• Ginger,Garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Garlic Cloves - 3-4 finely chopped
• White Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
• Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander - Chopped
• Oil/Butter - 3 tbsp
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Soak the basmati rice in water for 10-15 mins,drain the water and keep aside.
2. Cook the rice separately in a pressure cooker in the ratio of 1(rice):1.5(water) cups and keep aside.Once cooked, spread the rice in a plate and let it cool down.
3. Cut the paneer into small cubes and fry it in a tsp of oil till it starts turning brown.Drain it in a paper towel and keep aside.
4. In a pan, add 3 tbsp butter/oil,ginger-garlic paste,spring onions along with garlic and saute for 2-3 mins
5. Add the mixed vegetables and fry until the vegetables are half-cooked, and the raw smell disappears.
6. Then add white pepper powder,black pepper powder and salt to taste and stir well.
7. Add the fried paneer cubes along with the cooked rice and stir well.
8. Cook for 2-3 mins and switch off the flame.
9. Garnish it with Chopped Coriander leaves.(optional)
10. Serve with Raita or Side Dish like Manchurian.

Paneer Fried Rice

Vegetable Fried Rice

This is the simplest rice recipe that i have ever made.I bet it is a favorite dish in most party menu.This recipe does not have any extra added spices but the simple combination of White Pepper and Garlic gives the recipe an amazing aroma and flavor.It can be served with Raita or side dish :)

Time:Making Time (20 mins)

Difficulty level:Easy

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice - 2 cups
• Mixed Vegetables (Carrots,Grean Peas,Cabbage,Beans) - 1 cup finely chopped
• Onions - 1 small sized finely chopped (or) Spring Onions - chopped
• Ginger,Garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Garlic Cloves - 3-4 finely chopped
• Oil/Butter - 3 tbsp
• White Pepper Powder - 2 tsp
• Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander - Chopped
• Mint Leaves - Few chopped (optional)
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Soak the Basmati rice in water for 10-15 mins,drain the water and keep aside.
2. Cook the Rice separately and keep aside.
3. In a pressure pan, add 3 tbsp Butter/Oil,Ginger-Garlic paste,Chopped Onions along with chopped Garlic and saute for 2-3 mins
4. To this,add the mixed vegetables and simmer until the vegetables are half-cooked.
5. Now add the cooked rice and mix well. Then add White pepper powder,Black Pepper Powder and salt to taste and simmer until the raw smell of Pepper goes away.
6. Garnish it with Chopped Coriander leaves 
7. Serve with Raita or Side Dish.

Chef's Tip - I usually add 1.5 cups of water for 1 cup of Basmati rice.

Peas Pulao

This is the simplest pulao that i have ever made.I bet it is a favorite dish in most party menu.This recipe does not have any extra added spices but the simple combination of Green peas,Garlic,Green chilly,Mint and Coriander gives the recipe an amazing aroma and flavor.It can be served with Raita or Dal / Kurma :)

Time:Making Time (20 mins)

Difficulty level:Easy

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice - 2 cups
• Green Peas - 1 cup 
• Onions - 1 medium sized finely chopped
• Ginger,Garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Green Chilli - 3-4
• Jeera - 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Oil/Butter - 4 tbsp
• Bay leaf - 1
• Cinnamon - 1 piece
• Coriander - Chopped
• Mint Leaves - Few chopped

Preparation:

1. Soak the basmati rice in water for 10-15 mins,drain the water and keep aside.
2. In a pressure pan, add 2 tbsp Butter/Oil,Jeera seeds,Cinnamon and Bay leaf and allow it to splutter.
3. Now add the chopped Onion,ginger-garlic,green chilies and saute until its cooked.
4. To this,add the green peas and rice and mix well.
5. Add salt to taste,enough water  and pressure cook until the rice is well cooked.
6. Garnish it with fried onions and a dash of lemon juice
7. Serve with Raita or Dal / Kurma

Chef's Tip - I usually add 1.5 cups of water for 1 cup of Basmati rice.

Carrot Rice

The veggie carrot is very popular and healthy that it forms a part of everyday cooking.This recipe of Carrot Rice is a real departure from the usual menu. It tastes great,is healthy and very easy to prepare.I am sure shredding one carrot doesnt take much time and this dish takes just few mins to prepare if the rice is already cooked :)

Time:Making Time (10 mins)

Difficulty level: Very Easy

Ingredients:

• Grated Carrots - 1 cup
• Green Peas - 1/2 cup
• Onions - 1 finely chopped
• Cooked Rice - 2 cups ( works with Basmati Rice too)
• Green Chillies - 3-4
• Roasted peanuts or cashews for garnish
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Turmeric Powder -  a pinch
• Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
• Curry Leaves - 8-10
• Coriander Leaves for garnish
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. In a vessel,add oil, when heated add the mustard seeds, Jeera seeds,Green Chillies ,turmeric powder, curry leaves and allow it to splutter.
2. Add the chopped Onions to this and allow it to cook for sometime till it turns light pink. 
3. Now add the grated carrots and Green peas and simmer for 2-3 mins.
4. Once the raw smell disappears,add 1 tsp of red chilli powder to this.Then add the cooked rice and mix well.Add salt to taste.
5. Garnish with Coriander leaves and Serve hot with Raita or Papad.

Variations -

1.I just want to keep it simple and easy with just some tempering and so I don't use ginger-garlic in this preparation but if you want to use it, don't hesitate.
2.You can also fry a little peanuts or cashews and add it to the rice.

Tomato Pulao

There would be days when you run of veggies and have just tomatoes left over. Here is a simple and quick recipe which is very very tasty. The Mint leaves add an extra flavor to this rice recipe :)

Time:Making Time (20 mins)

Difficulty level:Easy

Ingredients:

• 3 Medium sized Tomatoes,finely chopped
• 1 cup finely chopped Onions
• 1/2 Green Peas (Optional)
• 2 cups Raw Basmati Rice
• 2 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 1/2" Cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
• 3-4 Green Chilies (slit)
• 10-12 Mint(Pudina) leaves finely chopped 
• 1 tsp Kasoori Methi
• 2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 2 tsp Cumin(Jeera) Powder
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander leaves
• 2 tbsp Oil/Ghee
• 1 tbsp Butter
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Heat Oil/Ghee in a pressure cooker,add Jeera,Bay Leaf,Cinnamon,Green chillies and Ginger-Garlic Paste and stir fry for 30 secs. 
2. Now add the sliced onions and saute for sometime.Now add the mint leaves and Kasoori Methi and saute for 2-3 mins again.
3. Now add the Red Chilli,Cumin Powder and mix well.Add the chopped tomatoes,green peas and salt to taste and allow it to cook on low flame for 5 mins.
4. Reduce the flame, add the raw rice to this and saute again. Add 3 1/2 cups of water to this and allow it to cook until the rice is done.
5. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with Raita or papad. Top it up with a dash of lemon.

Palak Pulav

Everytime we think about Palak,we get reminded of either Palak Paneer or Palak Dhal.Most of us are not very fond of Palak and hence dont experiment much with it.Palak can be used to make interesting and tasty recipes.This recipe of Palak Pulav was shared by a friend of mine. It tastes great with raita :)

Time:Making Time (30 mins)

Difficulty level:Medium

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice - 2 cups
• Palak - 1 bunch
• Green Peas - 1 cup (Optional)
• Onions - 1 medium sized finely chopped
• Tomatoes - 2 medium sized finely chopped
• Ginger,Garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Green Chilli - 3-4
• Jeera - 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Oil/Butter - 4 tbsp
• Bay leaf - 1
• Cinnamon - 1 piece

Preparation:

1. Cook the finely chopped Palak in water with a little salt.Once cooked,drain the water and keep it aside.
2. Now add the Palak,Ginger-Garlic,little chopped onions and green chillies and grind them into a fine paste with enough water.(You can use the same water used to cook the palak)
3. Soak the basmati rice in water for 10-15 mins,drain the water and keep aside.
4. In a pressure pan, add 2 tbsp Butter/Oil,Jeera seeds,Cinnamon and Bay leaf and allow it to splutter.
5. Now add the chopped Onions and Tomatoes and saute until its cooked.
6. To this,add the ground paste, green peas and rice and mix well.
7. Add salt to taste,enough water  and pressure cook until the rice is well cooked.
8. Garnish it with fried onions and a dash of lemon juice
9. Serve with Raita or plain curd

Chef's Tip - I usually add 1.5 cups of water for 1 cup of Basmati rice. If you add more vegetables, add water appropriately.