Paneer Biryani Recipe

It has been well said that good food is equal to a good mood. Our mood can only be good when we eat delicious food like paneer biryani. This dish is a mildly spiced and delicately flavored dum cooked. A paneer biryani recipe is a slow-cooked, layered casserole of paneer cubes, fried onions, and basmati rice flavored with spices, saffron, and milk. You will find many variations on making paneer biryani. Among them all, I find the panner biryani made in a pan to be delicious in comparison to others like pressure cooking. So, today I will be sharing my recipe with you all. There are three sections to cooking a perfect biryani. The marinating of the paneer comes first, then the making of the rice, and finally the making of the biryani, where everything will be assembled together. Let's get started.

INGREDIENTS

For Marination

• 1 cup of yogurt 
• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• ¾ teaspoon red chili powder
• 2 tablespoons biryani masala
• 2 tablespoons coriander (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt to taste
• Paneer cubes

For Rice

• 2 cups of basmati rice
• 4 cups of water
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 green cardamom pods
• 1-inch cinnamon stick
• Salt to taste
• 4 cloves

For Biryani

• 3 tablespoons oil
• 3 chopped onions
• 2 chopped green chillies
• 5 chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon biryani masala powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• A pinch of saffron strands, soaked in 2 tablespoons of warm milk
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

 

Paneer Marination

1. First of all, take 1 cup of yogurt and whisk it well before using.
2. Transfer the whisked curd to a big bowl.
3. Add ginger-garlic paste to the bowl.
4. Add turmeric, red chili powder, biryani masala, salt to taste, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
5. Add 1 teaspoon of oil for a good flavor.
6. Add finely chopped coriander and whisk everything together nicely.
7. Finally, add paneer cubes.
8. Mix everything together and leave it aside for an hour.

 Rice Preparation

1. Wash rice with clean water 3–4 times, thoroughly.
2. Soak the rice for 45 minutes to an hour.
3. Once the rice is soaked, it looks fluffy.
4. Take a container with 4 cups of water.
5. Add spices like bay leaves, cloves, cardamom pods, and a cinnamon stick.
6. Add 1 teaspoon oil and 1 teaspoon salt.
7. Boil until the flavor is absorbed.
8. Add 2 cups of basmati rice and stir well.
9. Boil until the rice is half cooked.
10. Finally, drain off the rice and keep it aside.

Paneer Biryani Preparation

1. Firstly, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large pan.
2. Add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, chopped onion, and chopped green chillies, and sauté until it turns golden brown.
3. Add 3 chopped tomatoes and sauté until they turn soft and mushy.
4. Add in marinated paneer and sauté that well too.
5. Do not overcook, as paneer turns rubbery.
6. Once everything is cooked well, it's time to layer rice and dum.
7. Add the rice prepared earlier and spread it uniformly.
8. Also, top with coriander and some fried onion.
9. Further sprinkle a pinch of biryani masala, 2 tablespoon saffron milk, 1 teaspoon ghee, and a cup of water.
10. Once the layering of biryani is done, it's time to seal the pan for cooking under dum. You can use dough on the side of the pan and place a lid on top.
11. Leave it on low flame for 15–20 minutes.
12. Once it's cooked, turn the flame off.
13. One of my tricks to perfect panner biryani is to not immediately open the lid to serve. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. This will let you enjoy the actual flavors of biryani.

This is my recipe for mouthwatering paneer biryani. I hope you will enjoy eating it as well. Tell me in the comments how you liked this recipe. You can share with your friends and family as well. Have an amazing time with this yummy paneer biryani recipe at home.