Paneer Biryani Recipe

Delicious paneer biryani recipe in Hyderabadi dum biryani style. Vegetarian biryani recipe which is also known as paneer pulao.

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Course: entree, Main Course

Cuisine: Indian, indian cuisine

Keyword: biryani, Paneer, paneer recipes

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 40

Total Time: 40

Servings:

Calories: 494kcal

In a big pot of boiling water add bay leaf, big cardamom, green cardamom and salt.
Add washed and soaked basmati rice and cook till the rice are 60-70% done.
Drain out the water using a colander and keep these partially cooked rice aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add one sliced onion to it. Cook the onions till it becomes crisp and dark brown. Keep them aside. If you are using store bought crispy fried onions skip this step.
For making biryani, in the same pan heat 2 tablespoon ghee and fry buts if you are using them. Take them out after 1 minute and keep them aside.
In the same pan add whole spices, cumin, 1-2 star anise, 1-inch cinnamon stick, 2 Cardamom, 3-4 cloves, peppercorn and cook for 1 minute on slow heat till spices are fragrant.
Add sliced onion and cook for another 2 minutes.
Now, add grated ginger fry it and add tomatoes and then add salt, red chili powder, garam masala powder or biryani masala or both in ½ quantities, and mix well. Cook till tomatoes are mushy.
Add ⅓ cup of water and mix well. cook for 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
Add paneer in this cooked masala and switch off the heat. Take out half of the paneer with cooked masala gravy.
Let the remaining half of paneer masala in same pan

In the same pan, spread half of the cooked rice over masala layer.
Now for next layer add remaining other half of the paneer masala gravy which you took out earlier
Sprinkle green coriander and mint leaves over this and lightly fried onion.
Follow it up with the second layer of partially cooked rice.
Finally, add warm milk in which saffron is soaked and tightly cover it. Also add mint leaves, fried onions and cover with a heavy lid.
Cook it on lowest heat for 15 minutes and serve paneer biryani hot with raita

While cooking rice boil the rice with whole spices to get better taste and aroma. Never boil the rice without spices.
Marination time is another factor that affects the flavour of biryani. Always marinate the paneer well and for a longer duration for a better flavour.
Do not overcook the rice in pre-cooking stage 60-70% cooked rice is good for biryani.
When in doubt always undercook because you will still get a chance to perfectly cook it during the dum process.
Fried onion or birista is another step which should never be skipped for biryani.