Paneer Biriyani

If you are on lent and craving to eat some biriyani, or if you have some vegetarian guests at home or if you want to serve something different other than the usual chicken or muttonbiriyani, this Paneer Biriyani is a good option! This came out really good when I recently made it for some guests and they all enjoyed it. Got this recipe from an old Vanitha magazine. This is a great option if you are lazy to make an elaborate weekend lunch / dinner. It is easy to make and can be served with biriyani salad, mint chutney, pickle and pappad. Do try and let me know how it turns out.

Paneer Biriyani

Ingredients

For the Rice:

Basmati Rice - 2 cups

Boiling water- 4 cups

Cinnamon sticks -2 x 1” piece

Cloves - 2

Cardamom - 2

Shahi Jeera - ½ tsp

Salt - to taste

Ghee - 2 tbsp

For Paneer Masala

Paneer - 300 gms, cut into cubes

Onion - 3 medium, finely sliced

Ginger Paste - 1 tbsp

Garlic paste - 1 tbsp

Tomato - 2 medium, sliced

Chilli powder - 2 tsp

Coriander powder - 2½ tsp

Turmeric powder - ½ tsp

Fennel seeds / Perumjeerakam - ½ tsp

Cinnamon - 1 small piece

Cloves - 3

Cardamom - 3

Yogurt - ¼ cup

Cashew nuts - 8 nos, grind to a fine paste

Coriander leaves - ¼ cup, chopped

Mint leaves - 2 tbsp, chopped

Salt

Ghee 2-3 tbsp

For Garnishing

Onion - 1medium, finely sliced & fried

Fried Cashew nuts - ¼ cup

Fried raisins - ¼ cup

Ghee

Coriander & Mint leaves

Method:

Preparing the Rice: 

• Wash rice and drain out the excess water. 
• In a non-stick pan heat 2 tbsp ghee and add shahi jeera, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom and sauté for few seconds and add the rice. Stir continuously on high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add boiling water and salt, stir well and cook covered on low heat until the water has been absorbed. Gently stir the rice with a fork and keep aside.

Preparing the Paneer Masala:

• Grind together chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, fennel seeds, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves with 1 or 2 tbsp water to a fine paste. Keep it aside.
• Heat ghee in a pan and add sliced onions and sauté till the onions become golden brown in colour.
• Add ginger and garlic paste. Cook for 4 -5 mins.
• Add the ground masala paste to this and cook till the raw smell goes, around five minutes in medium heat.
• Add sliced tomatoes and cook till oil separates.
• Add cashew nut paste and yogurt and mix well. Add paneer cubes to this, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes. Add half of coriander leaves and mint leaves and remove from fire.

Assemble the Biriyani:

• Grease an ovenproof baking dish with some ghee.  Divide the rice into three portions. Spread one portion to the bottom of the dish. Cover the rice with half of the cooked paneer. Sprinkle some of the remaining coriander leaves and mint leaves, and a portion of fried cashew nuts and raisins. Spread another layer of rice on top, and then cover with the rest of the chicken, mint leaves and coriander leaves. Finally top the chicken with the last portion of rice. Drizzle some saffron soaked in milk and ghee on the rice.
• Pre-heat oven to 180˚C and bake biriyani for 15 - 20 minutes or until heated thoroughly.
• Garnish biriyani with some golden fried onions, cashews, raisins, mint and coriander leaves. Serve with Biriyani Salad (Onion and yogurtsalad), Mint chutney, Lime pickle, Dates pickle and pappad.