🍛 Indian · Main · Medium difficulty · Vegetarian
Paneer Pulao
A comforting Indian main built around paneer, seasoned with basmati rice and onion.
- Prep time
- 9 min
- Cook time
- 21 min
- Total time
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 568 kcal
- Protein
- 20 g
- Carbs
- 54 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Course
- Main
About this Indian rice dish
Paneer Pulao is a Indian main built around paneer. It takes about 30 min from start to finish, 9 minutes of prep and 21 minutes of cooking, and serves 4.
Cooking method: rice dish. Difficulty is rated medium. Vegetarian, and marked gluten-free in our data.
Good for: meal prep, one-pot wonders.
Ingredients
Quantities are for 4 servings. Change the servings in the app to rescale them automatically.
- 300 g paneer, cubed
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tsp whole spices
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 cup green peas
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Method
Step 1. Rinse the rice or grains until the water runs clear, then drain.
- Heat
- Off, no heat yet
- Look for
- Pieces are roughly the same size, so they all finish cooking together.
- Why it matters
- Even pieces cook at the same speed. Prepping everything first (mise en place) stops you scrambling once the pan is hot.
- Avoid
- Cutting pieces of mixed sizes: small ones burn while big ones stay raw.
Step 2. Cook the onion in a wide pot with oil until soft and fragrant.
- Heat
- Medium to high, stir or flip now and then
- Look for
- Golden-brown edges, a steady sizzle and a toasty smell.
- Why it matters
- Browning (the Maillard reaction) creates deep savoury flavour that boiling cannot.
- Avoid
- Overcrowding the pan: the temperature drops and food steams. Cook in batches.
Step 3. Add the paneer and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Heat
- Keep the heat steady
- Look for
- The new ingredient is coated and the mixture returns to a gentle bubble.
- Why it matters
- Adding things in order lets each ingredient cook for just the right time.
- Avoid
- Dumping everything in at once: delicate items turn mushy before tougher ones are done.
Step 4. Stir in the rice with whole spices, cumin seeds and ghee and double the volume of hot water or stock.
- Heat
- Keep the heat steady
- Look for
- The new ingredient is coated and the mixture returns to a gentle bubble.
- Why it matters
- Adding things in order lets each ingredient cook for just the right time.
- Avoid
- Dumping everything in at once: delicate items turn mushy before tougher ones are done.
Step 5. Cover tightly and cook on low heat for 11 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Heat
- Low, with small lazy bubbles
- Look for
- Small bubbles break the surface gently; the sauce thickens and the food turns tender.
- Why it matters
- Gentle, steady heat softens tough fibres and lets flavours blend without drying things out.
- Avoid
- Letting it boil hard, which toughens meat and reduces the liquid too fast. Lifting the lid too often loses heat.
Step 6. Rest for 10 minutes, fluff with a fork and garnish with green peas.
- Heat
- Off, let it sit
- Look for
- Steam slows, juices settle and the dish firms up slightly.
- Why it matters
- Resting lets juices redistribute and flavours settle, and the food is easier to slice and eat.
- Avoid
- Skipping the rest: juices run out and the dish falls apart.
Chef's tip
Use a wide pot so the grains cook evenly.
Equipment you will need
- Wide pot with tight lid
- Fine sieve
- Fork
Nutrition per serving
Estimated per serving: 568 kcal, 20 g protein, 54 g carbohydrate and 30 g fat. Roughly 14% of the energy comes from protein, 38% from carbohydrate and 48% from fat, using standard energy values.
Nutrition values are estimates from typical ingredient profiles. They are not medical data, and brands and portions vary. Consult a doctor or registered dietitian about your diet.
When to cook Paneer Pulao
Substitutions and variations
- Rinse the rice until the water runs clear to avoid stickiness.
- Brown or wholegrain rice adds fibre; allow 15-20 more minutes of cooking time.
- Cool and refrigerate leftover rice within an hour to reduce food-safety risk.
Frequently asked questions about Paneer Pulao
How long does Paneer Pulao take to make?
It takes about 30 min in total: 9 minutes of prep and 21 minutes of cooking. Times are estimates and depend on your stove, pan and how small you cut the ingredients.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving has about 568 kcal, with 20 g protein, 54 g carbohydrate and 30 g fat. These are estimates for the recipe's 4 servings.
Is Paneer Pulao gluten-free?
It is marked gluten-free in our data. Still check labels on stock, sauces and spice blends, which can contain gluten.
Is it suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
Yes, it is vegetarian: no meat, poultry or fish.
How difficult is it to cook?
It is a medium-difficulty recipe: it needs some timing and several steps, so read through the method before you start.
Can I make Paneer Pulao ahead or freeze it?
Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days. Most baked and saucy dishes freeze well for up to 3 months, but avoid freezing crisp items and salads.
How many servings does it make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. To change the amount, scale each ingredient in proportion. The interactive app's servings control does this automatically.