This easy paneer fried rice is quick to make and has intense flavours with just simple ingredients available at home. Even without ajinomoto!
One of my blog readers requested for paneer fried rice recipe similar to the one they serve in restaurant saravana bhavan. Sadly I have never tasted that. I wanted to taste once and then post the recipe, but we rarely go there and never got a chance to taste. So I had no idea how they make, but thought of testing paneer fried rice recipe on my own.
I just made it like the regular fried rice without much veggies and with scrambled paneer. And the out come is a big hit! Aj and Vj both ate silently and finished quickly, which means this is the best and more over, it is easy!. Do try this easy recipe for your lunch box or to surprise your guests. They will be sure taking time to guess the ingredients😉.
As I always love to eat variety rice, I tried to just incorporate paneer in the fried rice I usually make. It’s added proteins and looks tempting too.
A lot of recipes say to add chopped paneer, so I wanted to do something different from that.
Paneer fried rice tips:
Can paneer fried rice be reheated? I would suggest to consume freshly or as such. If you are packing for lunch yes, you can warm it in microwave oven. Do not heat until hot, just heat until warm to avoid discoloring of veggies and paneer turning rubbery.
Which rice can be used? I love basmati rice as it is fragrant. You can use any type of rice, just make sure it to be separate grains.
Which Paneer works best? Fresh paneer works best as it is soft and moist. But frozen paneer can also be used just don’t forget to soak in hot water prior cooking to soften it.
Take a note that paneer turns rubbery when it is over cooked, so make sure not to over cook.
Secret for perfect rice texture: Refrigerate after separating the grains! For that reason, leftover rice also works best.
Easy paneer fried rice method:
- Wash & soak basmati rice for minimum 10 mins and cook it with water ratio 1 : 1 & ½ for 3 whistles.
- Cool down by either fluffing gently with ladle once or twice to loosen the rice. Or, invert over a plate and break the big mass. Drizzle some oil over. Once cooled, separate the grains. Keep a side.
- Boil water and keep the paneer immersed for 10 minutes. Then drain from water and crumble it roughly.
- Chop carrot and capsicum finely. I chopped white part of spring onion and green part separately. Heat oil in a pan and add the spring onion. Fry for a minute.
- Add carrot and fry for 30 secs, add sugar while you fry, then add capsicum and fry for another 30 secs.
- Always fry in high flame. You can toss to get a smoky flavour that comes when it catches fire while tossing. If you are not comfortable, no need to do that, just fry in high flame.
- Add pepper and give a quick stir. I added crumbled paneer lastly.
- Garnish with the green part of the spring onion and required salt. Mix well.
- Now add the cooked rice and mix properly until rice gets fried and you hear the crackling sound. Switch off the flame.
Serve hot with any masala gravy or Indo Chinese side. We had with Aloo bhindi masala and it was yummy! perfect lunch 🙂
easy paneer fried rice
Ingredients
- Basmati rice – 1 & ½ cup
- Paneer cubes – 1 & ½ cup
- Carrot – 1
- Capsicum – 1
- Spring onion – 1 bunch 5 sprigs
- Pepper – 1 tsp
- Sugar – ¾ tsp
- Salt – As needed
- Olive oil – 3 tbsp
Instructions
- Wash & soak basmati rice for 10 mins minimum and cook it with water ratio 1 : 1 & ½ for 3 whistles.
- Cool down the rice by either fluffing it gently or inverting over a plate. Drizzle some sesame oil over. Keep a side.
- Boil water and keep the paneer immersed for 10 minutes. Then drain from water and crumble it roughly.
- Chop carrot and capsicum finely. I chopped white part of spring onion and green part separately.
- Heat oil in a pan and add the spring onion. Fry for 30 secs. Add carrot and fry for 30 secs, add sugar while you fry, then add capsicum and fry for another 30 secs. Always fry in high flame.
- You can toss to get a smoky flavour that comes when it catches fire while tossing. If you are not comfortable, no need to do that, just fry in high flame.
- Add pepper and give a quick stir. I added crumbled paneer lastly.
- Garnish with the green part of the spring onion and required salt. Mix well.
- Now add the cooked rice and mix properly until rice gets fried and you hear the crackling sound. Switch off the flame.
Notes
- You can keep the rice in fridge to maintain the shape of the rice without breaking it.
- Add veggies of your choice along. Or even you can make it plain without veggies. Just onion and paneer.
- You can add some sauces like chilli, tomato and soy sauces while you add pepper. Add 1 tsp each.
- The crumbling part is up to your wish, like you can crumble finely or roughly too. Depends on which texture you want.
Yummy fried rice..looks so rich with the addition of paneer!
So Yummy and all in one option for kids lunch box
Great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com
Super tempting and yummy fried rice. Will give it a try soon. Love the idea of scrambled panner
Inviting colorful rice raji… Yummy !!!
http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com
Tempting n yummy fried rice dear
very colorful and mouthwatering. Nice clicks
Sowmya
http://nivedhanams.blogspot.in/
soooper tempting & flavorful recipe
Tasty Appetite
yummy fried rice..will try it soon
Yummy looking fried rice…..pic makes me hungry…looks awesome.
looks delicious..
Hi Raji,
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Sowmya
http://nivedhanams.blogspot.in/
super delicious fried rice…will try it out real soon!!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
super delicious looking fired rice..
Paneer fried rice looks superlicious.
I just made this rice b4 a week with a small change of adding pan fried paneer cubes.
So I hv 2 try ur version some other day:-)
Fried rice looks delicious… Tasty lunch box recipe..Like to have a try
Lovely pics and delicious looking fried rice.
They look delicious. I am not making paneer dishes .. i have to 🙂
Definitely a crowd pleaser… looks so yummy
I have tasted this recipe at once during my last summer vaccation,it was so nice…super n perfect for kids lunch box..
Wonderful looking fried rice!
Appetite Treats
my mouth is watering darling..
Liked your idea of scrambled paneer. yummy looking fried rice…
crumbling is a great idea! i usually add it in whole and sometimes it becomes too dry.
Delicious rice,i too never tasted this…have to give a try:)
No longer can one complain about the paneer becoming crumbly! You have used it effectively and deliciously in the fried rice.
WOW!!! Well done, a nice and different recipe.
Looks awesome..and so colorful….
Feeling hungry to see your clicks. Superb!
Nice idea, sure my kids will love this fried rice…will try it soon…looks very inviting!
wow… paneer fried rice looks delicious and colourful.. wonderful idea of adding crumbled panner…
Really.. small dishes make a big difference…. and u make it all to happen live :)… Thanks… recommending ur site to many of my friend who are learning Samayal… continue ur endevours and inspiring us too…..
Looks so tempting!
Nice idea of adding panneer to fried rice
Wow flavourful and yummy looking fried rice…looks soo tempting!!
This is yum. Bookmarked.
I am hosting WTML All through August’12. Do send me your entries
As usual, beautiful presentation Raks!! 🙂
Really mouth watering…!!!
It's really tasty. I tried that last week
Yum yum yum if you stick to recipe.
I made this today. Came out quite well. The only change I would recommend is adding salt to the rice while cooking it. Otherwise you need to add extra salt towards the end and mix which could result in the rice becoming mushy from too much handling.
Prepared this for dinner yesterday.it came out so soooo well and my hubby and daughter loved it!! I too loved it as well : ) . .Keep up the good job!! May God bless you!! 🙂
very nice recipe…
Hello raji, I Love your blog and your way of presenting things!! Keep up the good work !! There is a typo in heading. It should be Fried rice not tried rice. Is it not?
Paneer gets harder while we eat. How to prevent this?
Better to consume hot. But still, if the paneer is immersed in hot water until you crumble it, it wont be hard. May be keep the paneer immersed in hot water for 10 mins first, then again change to hot water to make it softer.
When i immersed in hot water small small pieces are coming out and i am scared the paneer will dissolve in water
Which brand is it? Kohinoor, milkymist are good
When i immersed in hot water small small pieces are coming out and i am scared the paneer will dissolve in water