Paneer and Mixed Vegetables Pulao - Cottage Cheese and Mixed Vegetables Pilaf

Paneer & Mixed Vegetables Pulao

Paneer & Mixed Vegetables Pulao

This is another quick and easy one pot meal. This recipe does not use onion and garlic. It really comes handy on certain auspicious days according to the Hindu calendar when we are required to cook without onion/garlic. Also many people are allergic to onion/garlic, so this recipe is for them as well. I know this first hand as my FIL(father-in-law) is allergic to garlic and when they were visiting us I cooked many dishes without garlic and many of them without onion as well.  I was really surprised at the results. Also, since I just love fresh herbs I try to incorporate a lot of that in my cooking as well. I happened to have fresh mint and had to use this in this recipe. I hope you like my minty flavoured Pulao.  

Ingredients:

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 1 cup paneer diced
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (peas,carrots, green pepper,red pepper)
• 2 tbsp freshly grated ginger
• 2-3 green chillies slit
• a few fresh mint leaves
• 1 tomato chopped
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• cinnamon stick
• 1 black cardamom
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp cumin-cilantro powder
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• salt to taste

Preparation : Wash and Soak 2 cups of rice in 4 cups of water. Keep this aside for around 15-20 minutes.Heat some oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, bay leaves, black cardamom and cinnamon stick. Add the grated ginger. Fry for a minute. Next add green chillies , chopped tomatoes and mint leaves . Fry for about 2 minutes on medium flame. Add  the diced Paneer and mixed vegetables. Stir fry for about another couple minutes.Then add turmeric powder, salt, red chilli powder and cumin-coriander powder. Add rice with the water which we had kept aside earlier. Let this cook uncovered on medium flame. Now when you see that most of the water has dried up (like 85-90%) set the stove to the lowest flame and cover the pan with a lid and cook for about 5 minutes.

Paneer & Mixed Vegetables Pulao is ready to serve. Serve with Raita of your choice.This recipe serves 4. Enjoy. Bon appetit !!!

Paneer & Mixed Vegetables Pulao