Matar paneer pulao recipe - Green peas paneer pulao

Matar paneer pulao recipe - Today I am sharing with you all a very delicious and quick pulao "matar paneer pulao" made in pressure cooker. This is a flavorful pulao as I have used basmati rice and brown cardamoms. These brown cardamom adds an exotic flavor to the rice. Paneer matar combination is loved by all age groups, these makes the dish rich and inviting. This is a filling healthy dish that is loaded with proteins and carbohydrates. It is a perfect dish for all those who are looking for a healthy, quick one pot meal recipe. Though I have used basmati rice, any other variety of rice can also be used to make the pulao.

Matar Paneer Pulao Recipe

Prep time : 20 mins 

Cook time : 30 mins

Total time : 50 mins

Recipe type : Main-Pulao

Cuisine : Indian

Yield : Serves 2

Author : Vidya Chandrahas

Ingredients 

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 2 cups paneer cubes
• 1 cup green peas
• 1 large sized onion, chopped
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2" ginger piece, crushed
• 1 tsp garam masala
• Fistful of chopped cilantro
• 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp ghee or as required
• Salt to taste

For the marinade :

• 1/2  cup curd
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder

For the tempering 

•  7 cloves / lavang
• 4  cinnamon sticks / dalchini
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp cumin seeds / jeera
• 2 brown cardamoms / 6 green cardamoms  ( slit from one side)

Method 

1. Wash and soak the rice and keep it aside for 10 minutes. 
2. Heat some oil in a frying pan over a medium high flame and stir fry the paneer cubes for 5 minutes. Remove and keep it aside. 
3. Mix together the curd, chilli powder and salt in a large bowl and beat it till smooth paste.
4. Marinate the stir fried paneer cubes and keep them aside for 10 minutes.
5. Heat ghee  in a  frying  pan over a medium high flame and add the whole spices for tempering except cardamom.
6. When they crackle nicely, add onions, ginger and garlic. Fry till the raw smell of the ginger and garlic disappears and onions become soft. 
7. Once the onions become soft, add the red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and cardamoms.  Saute for a while. 
8. Now add the rice and  saute for a minute. 
9. Add green peas and saute for a minute. Add marinated paneer cubes. Saute for a minute and mix well.
10. Transfer this rice mixture to a pressure cooker, pour 2 cups of  hot water over it, add  coriander leaves  and salt. Mix well. Cover the cooker with a lid, place it over a medium high flame, take 2 whistles and turn off the flame. 
11. When the pressure releases, remove the lid, fluff  the rice with a fork. 
12. Serve the matar paneer pulao hot with lemon and any tasty side dish such as  sabzi, salad, raita, pickle, papad, bhajji, curd etc. 
13. While eating, squeeze the lime over the pulao, mix it using the spoon and eat.

Matar paneer pulao - step by step pictures

1.  Cut he paneer into small cubes as shown below. Heat some oil in pan and stir fry the paneer for 5 minutes.

2.  Mix together the curd, chilli powder and salt in a large bowl and beat it  till smooth paste.

3.  Marinate the stir fried paneer cubes and keep them aside for 10 minutes.

4.  Wash and soak  the rice and keep it aside for 10 minutes.

 5.  Arrange the spices on a plate.

6.  Heat ghee  in a  frying  pan over a medium high flame and add the whole spices for tempering except cardamom.

7.  When they crackle nicely, add onions, ginger and garlic. Fry till the raw smell of the ginger and garlic disappears and onions become soft. 

8.  Once the onions become soft, add the red chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam  masala and cardamoms. Saute for a while. Now add the rice and  saute for a minute. 

9.  Add green peas and saute for a minute.

10.  Add marinated paneer cubes. Saute for a minute and mix well.

11.  Transfer this rice mixture to a pressure cooker, pour 2 cups of  hot water over it, add coriander leaves  and salt. Mix well.

12.  Cover the cooker with a lid, place it over a medium high flame, take 2 whistles and turn off the flame.

13.  When the pressure releases, remove the lid, fluff  the rice with a fork. 

14.  Serve the matar paneer pulao hot with lemon and any tasty side dish such as sabzi, salad, raita, pickle, papad, bhajji, curd etc. 

15.  While eating, squeeze the lime over the pulao, mix it using the spoon and eat.