Paneer Biryani

This is an easy biryani recipe with paneer. Paneer can be replaced with diced chicken if needed. The spices levels are kept quite low so that kids can eat it too. Approximate time required: ~ 40 mins after soaking rice in advance

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of cubed paneer

  • 2 cups of basmati rice

  • 3 cups of water

  • 3 pods of garlic

  • 1 inch of ginger

  • 1 medium sized onion chopped

  • 1 tomato diced medium sized

  • 3 cloves

  • 3 cardamom

  • 1 inch of cinnamon bark

  • 1/2 a star anise

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 1 teaspoon of garam masala

  • 1 pinch of kasuri methi

  • 6-7 leaves of finely chopped mint

  • 1 tbsp of vegetable oil

  • salt to taste

Directions

  • Soak the basmati rice in water for 1 hour before cooking

  • Cut the ginger and garlic to fine pieces, or use ginger garlic paste

  • Roast the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and star anise in a dry pan till lightly browned

  • Blend the dry roasted spices to a fine powder

  • In an instant pot or pressure cooker, add 1 tbsp of oil and saute ginger, garlic and onions to golden brown with a pinch of salt

  • Add tomatoes and cook them till they soften

  • Add the spice mix powder and bay leaves, and let cook for 2 mins

  • Put the basmati rice, paneer, mint and water into the cooker

  • Add more salt to taste

  • Pressure cook the rice and spices for 5 mins on high pressure in the instant pot

  • When done, crush the kasuri methi with your fingers and add it to the biryani

  • Sprinkle a teaspoon of garam masala to the biryani and mix the biryani thoroughly

  • Optional- serve with raitha (yoghurt, chopped cucumber, salt, finely diced onion)