Paneer/Cottage Cheese Fried Rice

I'm becoming a big fan of one pot meals these days.Why?My LM has long hours at school and she HAS to eat her lunch there, hubby dear who loves his elaborate curry-kootu south indian platter lunch has to carry his lunch and by making one pot meals in the morning i can escape all the cutting and chopping.Call it laziness but if i don't sleep with the menu decided for next day I'd be lost!

I made this paneer fried with a wee bit of doubt if my DH will like it because he isn't a big fan of paneer/cottage cheese.But he liked it so I decided it can make its presence once in a while.But alas LM never finished her lunch box :( sad but I just have to bear with her and her choosy habits.

This rice was really nice i loved the mild flavours which i wanted to be so because i thought someone little would enjoy it ( I was wrong) but i liked the mild spices which went perfectly well with the soft paneer.

To make this you need

Paneer 1 cup cubed 

Basmati rice - 2 cups soaked for half hour

Onion 1 large

Tomato 1 large

Ginger 1/2 inch piece, Garlic 4-5 pods both chopped finely or crushed

Garam masala powder 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Yogurt/curd 2 tablespoons

Warm Water 2 cups

Ghee/Butter/Oil or a mix of both in any ratio you want 1 tablespoon

Whole spices  - cinnamon 1 inch piece

• Soak the basmati rice for half hour and drain and keep aside.Heat some water to cook this rice keep this ready.
• Heat oil in a deep vessel, add the butter/ghee and add the cinnamon stick.Add paneer to this and brown the pieces.Remove the paneer and set aside.
• Add onions fry well then add the crushed ginger garlic and saute well.
• Add tomato and fry well until mashed.Now add the Yogurt/curd and saute well for 2-3 minutes.
• Add garam masala powder and fry well.
• Add the drained basmati rice and fry well until it goes translucent.
• Add the warm water now and check for salt.Add the fried paneer now.
• Once this water starts boiling mildly reduce the flame to medium and cover this and cook for 12-15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed by the rice.
• Fluff the rice up with a fork in between do not stir once the rice is added.

• Mild paneer fried rice is ready to be served with any raita of your choice, pickle and papads or by itself too.Have a good meal :)