My kids love paneer so I’m always making paneer almost every week and switching up between the different paneer recipes and serving them with roti/paratha or rice. One day, when I was feeling a bit lazy thought of making Matar paneer and rice but as one-pot dish. It turned out delicious! That is how Matar Paneer Pulao came into existence. My kids loved it so much that they keep asking me to make their favorite paneer and peas pulao. So lets see how to make it!!
You will need
Paneer - This is Indian cottage cheese. You can either make it at home or use store bought one. I’ve used frozen one for this recipe. Just soak the paneer in warm water for 20-30 mins which helps make it really soft. I’m directly using the soft paneer for this recipe but you can also shallow fry the paneer on a separate pan until cripsy and golden brown and then add after the Pulao is cooked. Peas - I prefer adding just peas to this as we as a family love the paneer peas combo. But you can definitely add more veggies to it. I’ve used frozen green peas. Fresh will work as well. Rice - Use long grain basmati rice to make this pulao. Love how flavorful and good it looks with basmati. In addition, to flavor the main ingredients we will need Fats - Oil or ghee for cooking. Ghee gives it own flavor to the recipe so definitely give it a try! Spices - I’m using a combination of whole spices as well as spice powders. If you usually cook Indian food, these spices should already be in your spice box or pantry. Tomato puree - Store bought tomato puree is your best bet here since its concentrated and rich in tomato flavor. Alternately you can grind 2 tomatoes and use that in place. Aromatics - can’t live without ginger garlic, green chillies (optional). Last but not least some lemon juice and cilantro (coriander) to finish the recipe.
How to make Matar Paneer Pulao
Below is the step by step method to make Matar Paneer Pulao using Instant Pot. Please refer to the recipe card for pressure cooker and stove top instructions. If you are using frozen paneer, soak it in warm water for 30 mins or until its completely soft. Drain and cut in cubes. Keep the cubes in warm water until ready to use to prevent them from drying. Wash your rice until water runs clear and soak them in 2-3 cups of water till you prep rest of the ingredients.
Start Instant Pot on saute mode and to it add the whole spices. Stir for a few seconds and add the onions, salt and fry till light brown. Add ginger garlic and saute till raw garlic smell disappears.
Add all the spices and cook for few seconds followed by tomato puree. Cook for a min or two. Drain the water from the rice completely and add it along with green peas and 1 cup water, mix well. Deglaze if needed. ensure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pot. Drain the water from paneer too and add it as well. Give it a quick gentle mix. Close the Instant pot lid with vent sealing and cook on manual or pressure cook (high) for 6 mins. Once the cooking is complete, quick release after 5 mins.
Open the lid and fluff up the rice using a fork. Close the lid and let it rest for 5 mins. Open the lid, add lemon juice and fluff it up again. Be careful to not break the paneer (as much as possible). Finish off with some cilantro. Delicious Paneer Matar Pulao is ready, serve warm with some cucumber raita.
More Rice recipes to try:
VEGETABLE PULAO TAWA PULAO RECIPE VEGETABLE FRIED RICE SPICY TEMPERED LEFTOVER RICE BROWN RICE STIR-FRY WITH TOFU,
More Paneer recipes to try:
PANEER BHURJI MATAR PANEER PANEER BUTTER MASALA PALAK PANEER PANEER BABYCORN JALFREZIE
Hope you enjoy this Matar Paneer Pulao as much as we do!! If you give this recipe a try, we did love to hear your feedback ❤️ Please rate by clicking stars ⭐️in the recipe card. Thank you!
Recipe Card
Happy Cooking! Shweta
