Though I collect dishes-to-cook-over-weekend all through the week, come Sunday and I am too lazy to do anything much. I hate myself for that cuz I am letting all the lovely natural light go away when I could cook something new and photograph it!
Anyway, on this particular Sunday that I made the peas pulao, I was too lazy to make a side-dish with the paneer I had so I added it to the pulao! The light was just too perfect for me to pass on taking food pics. No harm done and so much time saved, right? Well, TH would have still preferred Palak Paneer to go with the peas pulao but when one’s wife is lazy occasionally, one can’t complain too much, right? 😉
Adding Paneer to Peas Pulao is a great idea mainly because of the texture it gives. Peas becomes a bit soft on cooking and especially if you are just serving the pulao with raita, it’s better to add some paneer in there for some extra chewiness. Go ahead, it’s paneer, you really can’t go wrong.
Paneer Peas Pulao Recipe
Serves 2
Ingredients for Paneer Peas Pulao:
Cooked basmati rice – 1 1/2 cups
Onion – 1, chopped fine
Green peas – 1/2 cup
Paneer cubes – 1/2 cup
Green chillies – 3
Ginger garlic paste – 1.5 tsp
Cumin / jeera / jeerakam seeds – 1 tsp
Whole black pepper – 1/2 tsp
Cloves – 4
Cardamom – 2
Cinnamon stick – a 1″ piece
Bay leaves – 1
Ghee / Clarified butter (or veg oil) – 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
How to Make Paneer Peas Pulao:
1. Soak the basmati rice in enough water to cover it, for 15 mins. Meanwile, grind the pepper, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon together. If you have a pestle and mortar, that will be best.
2. Heat the ghee in a pan and throw in the cumin seeds. Once they splutter, add the ground ingredients. Tear the bay leaf into 3 and add toss that in too.
3. Now add the onions, split green chillies and saute until onions turn transparent.
4. Then add the ginger garlic paste and saute well for a minute.
5. Add the peas and paneer cubes and mix well for another 2-3 mins.
6. Drain the rice completely and add to the pan. Mix thoroughly.
6. Add 2 cups water to the above and let it cook until the rice is done. Alternately, you can add equal ratio of water (1.5 cups rice : 1.5 cups water) and pressure cook for one whistle. Once the pressure leaves, open lid immediately and transfer to another bowl.
7. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with side-dish of choice.
I was too lazy that Sunday which is why instead of using up the paneer to make a side dish, I added it to the peas pulaoa and served it with just cucumber raita and pickle 😉
Tried the pulao… was awesome… Thanks Nags.
Hi Nags
Could you please tell me whether can I cook rice seperately and then combine it with the peas-paneer stuff like in fried rice?
yes of course.
Looks very appetizing indeed!! Wow!!
For me, the real test of any recipe is to see if my picky 5 year old will eat it and he really loved this one. Thank you for this amazing blog and the wonderful photos. I'm going to be a regular visitor.
Rekha
Hi nagalakshmi…!!!!!!!i just cooked this recipe and it was very great taste……..i serve it with aloo sabji….its really YUMMY!!…….thank you so much for gave a nice recipe……..
I cooked this recipe for lunch today and it went great with chicken kababs hot off the BBQ and cool raitha! Delish!!
Paneer Peas Pulao with chicken kebabs sounds awesome Preeti. So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hey there, that's a star anise. Pretty eh? 🙂
What's that "start-shaped" thing you used as decoration?
i heart one pot deals….this looks fabulous!! the preparation and the picture!!
looks scrumptious! beautiful picture…looking forward to trying this out…have to say your rice looks perfect, mine always come out a little sticky!
Great Paneer Recipes. Check out this Paneer Cooking Contest. Wish me luck! Hope to see some of your recipes in there too.
wow, I am following your photography tricks here and am amazed how great yours look 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing all the “how-to”s…. 🙂
Best peas pulao ever 🙂
Just tried it and it came out really well…
Thanks for sharing.
Deepa
Absolutely my kinda lazy recipe….I love making pulaos when I dont wanna do anything …..just put in everything and out comes a lovely one pot dish….smart na??
Looks delicious!! I can almost smell all the fragrant ingredients!!! Would love to try this recipe soon. 🙂
Very nice. I have also a site for recipes for cooking. See. I love your recipes. I am from the Slovak Republic. Be translated through Google translate http://www.irecepty.com
looks scrumptious! beautiful picture…looking forward to trying this out…have to say your rice looks perfect, mine always come out a little sticky!
paneer peas pulav looks very nice and picture is too tempting!!!
I got so tempted with this pic that I made a simple peas pulav as I did not have paneer & finished it off! I will definitely try this once I am back in Bangalore
I am usually lazy on weekends and end up with a pulao or bisi bele bath! This too looks yummy:)
how dare you not send me this for the mela!!!…better get ready with the mail!..I know I can’t help but drool at the pictures..:)
Beautiful pic and that pulao looks so delicious. Love the way each rice has seperated. Just superb.
Well Nags here now it is winter, i think the weather is always dark, so it dosn’t matter if i take picture during the day or night .
awesome recipe, awesome pic.. keep rocking!:-)
This looks Yummmmmmm…
Wow something new peas and paneer.hmmm. Looks delectable. Aloo palak looks tempting and welcoming.
I’m glad you didn’t give into the lazies this once because this picture looks fabulous.
Making pula isn’t being lazy in my books. 🙂
i heart one pot deals….this looks fabulous!! the preparation and the picture!!