Paneer Biryani is a one-pot vegetarian meal with fragrant fluffy basmati rice, and pillowy comfortable chunks of flavorful paneer marinated in warming spices. Garnished with caramelized onions, saffron-infused milk, and herbs this gluten-free meal is ideal for on a regular basis in addition to particular events.

Leap to:
My Prompt Pot Paneer Biryani has been tremendous common since I printed it 6 years in the past. The easier tackle the normal range high recipe, the Prompt Pot model made it attainable to prepare dinner Biryani in a single pot and with a fraction of the time.
I’m grateful to each considered one of you who has tried it and made it a part of your loved ones dinner desk.
Through the years I’ve acquired many requests for a stovetop paneer biryani recipe and I’m tremendous excited to share it lastly.
On this recipe, I’m sharing detailed steps with all of my tricks to make Paneer Biryani utilizing the normal stovetop methodology – from marinating paneer to creating the crispy golden fried onions and cooking fluff rice to perfection so every grain is separate. And lastly the right way to make the ultimate layer of garnish so the ultimate dish seems colourful with genuine style!

Elements
Marinating
- Paneer – home made paneer or store-bought paneer works. In case you have frozen paneer, ensure to thaw it earlier than. Gopi Paneer and Sach Paneer are a few of my favourite Paneer manufacturers. They’re accessible in Indian grocery shops in addition to at some Costco and Entire Meals.
- Greens – pink onion and bell pepper add a pleasant pop of shade in addition to texture to the Biryani
- Yogurt – plain complete milk or low-fat milk yogurt is ideal for marinating
- Ginger and Garlic – home made recent ginger paste and garlic paste add an genuine style and aroma to the biryani.
- Floor Spices – pink chili powder, turmeric, and biryani masala add excellent aroma and heat to the dish. I really like Kashmiri pink chili powder because it provides a vibrant orange hue to the marinade with out including an excessive amount of warmth.
- Lemon – freshly squeezed lemon juice provides tangy flavors and balances the spicy flavors
- Mint – recent mint provides genuine flavors and is a good way to include some herbs on this dish.

Rice, Aromatics, Spices
- Basmati Rice – Good high quality, fragrant, and aged long-grain Basmati rice is a should for making Biryani. Kohinoor additional lengthy grain Basmati rice and Laxmi additional lengthy Basmati Rice are a staple in my pantry and can be found in Indian grocery shops within the US.
- Onions – yellow onions fried golden-crisp are a should in Biryani in addition to as a garnish on high. Ensure to slice the onions skinny in order that they prepare dinner sooner. The onions might be comfortable while you take them out of the recent ghee however will crisp up as they quiet down
- Ghee – a should for nutty style, the ghee is used to fry onions in addition to to prepare dinner the biryani
- Tomato – pureed ripe tomato makes a tangy base for the paneer to prepare dinner
- Entire Spices – black cumin seeds (shah jeera), cloves, star anise, inexperienced cardamom, and bay leaves are infused within the sizzling water used to prepare dinner the rice
- Saffron – infused in milk, saffron provides a pop of yellow shade to the rice.
- Cashews – non-obligatory garnish. Fry complete uncooked unsalted cashews in ghee till calmly golden or you can too pop them within the air fryer at 300 F for 4 minutes

How one can Make Paneer Dum Biryani
Here’s a step-by-step recipe with pictures exhibiting the right way to make excellent biryani.
1: Marinate the Paneer
Begin by marinating the paneer. Ensure to make use of recent spices, herbs, and good-quality paneer.
I’ve used home made biryani masala on this recipe however you can too use store-bought. Garam masala can be substitute if that’s what you’ve got readily available.

2. Make crispy fried onions
I desire to shallow fry onions in lesser ghee as an alternative of deep frying them. You may select both methodology and use oil as an alternative of ghee. Simply ensure to stir them always and switch the warmth off as soon as they begin to change into golden brown as they are going to proceed to prepare dinner even after the warmth is turned off.
Reserve half of the onions for garnish and prepare dinner the marinated paneer within the remaining half.

3: Parboil the rice
Rinse the rice a number of occasions after which soak it in water for 20 minutes. Drain once more.
Cook dinner the rice in boiling water infused with complete spices. It needs to be solely partially cooked, as it should end cooking when the biryani is “dum” cooked (slow-cooked in a sealed pot).
Drain the rice and reserve.

4: Layering
Saute the marinated paneer within the pot with leftover crispy onions together with pureed tomatoes. Ensure to saute solely till all the things is simply heated by way of. Don’t overcook the paneer.
Gently layer partially cooked rice over the paneer and veggies. Chances are you’ll select to take out half of the paneer and veggies, layer over half of the rice, after which repeat with the opposite half of the paneer and rice.
Add the garnish layers – saffron-infused milk, reserved caramelized onions, and golden fried cashews.

5: Seal and gradual prepare dinner AKA “Dum”
Seal the lid tightly by securing aluminum foil across the lid to stop any steam from escaping the pot. You can too put one thing heavy like a pestle on the lid.
Cook dinner on the bottom warmth. This methodology of gradual cooking is also called “Dum” and therefore the time period Dum Biryani.
Permit the Biryani to relaxation for at the very least 10 minutes with the lid closed earlier than serving.

How one can Serve Paneer Biryani
Gently fluff the rice with out mixing it an excessive amount of. It will stop the grains from breaking particularly when the rice is sizzling.
Serve Biryani with lemon wedges, Beet Raita, Cucumber Raita, or Beet Koshimbir.
When internet hosting family and friends I like to Pair Paneer Biryani with Mango Lassi, Parathas, Dal Makhani, and Gajar Halwa for a scrumptious Indian meal.

Storing
Leftover Paneer Biryani could be refrigerated in an hermetic container for 4 to five days. You can too freeze the Biryani for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge. Sprinkle a number of spoons of water over the Biryani and reheat within the microwave or a stovetop pan.
Tricks to Make Good Biryani with Fluffy Rice
Biryani is a beloved and flavorful South Asian dish that may be a bit difficult to excellent, however with follow and a focus to element, you can also make a scrumptious biryani. Listed here are some suggestions that will help you make the proper biryani:
- Select the Proper Rice: Use aged additional long-grain Basmati rice, because it absorbs flavors properly and would not change into mushy when cooked. Soak the rice for at the very least 20 minutes earlier than cooking to make sure it cooks evenly.
- Select Proper Pots: In contrast to Prompt Pots that are available in customary sizes, all of us have different-sized pots and pans in our kitchen. Be sure you use a heavy-bottom casserole pot for cooking Biryani and use a saucepan that’s sufficiently big to parboil the rice with a lot of water. For the proportions of Biryani on this recipe a 4QT casserole and a 3QT saucepan work properly. They are going to be about ¾th crammed when the biryani is absolutely layered and when the rice is parboiled.
- Use Recent Elements: Recent and high-quality elements make an enormous distinction within the closing style of your biryani. This consists of recent spices, greens, and protein.
- Add Aromatics: Biryani is understood for its fragrant spices and herbs. Use a mix of spices like cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaves, and remember recent mint and coriander leaves. Layer them between the rice and meat/greens for a burst of taste.
- Selfmade Biryani Masala: Make your biryani masala from scratch. This offers you management over the flavors and permits you to alter the spice stage to your liking.
- Do not Overcook the Rice: Parboil the rice earlier than layering it. It needs to be solely partially cooked (80%), as it should end cooking when the biryani is “dum” cooked (slow-cooked in a sealed pot). Overcooked rice will change into mushy.
- Seal the Pot: To make sure that the flavors are locked in, seal the pot with a tight-fitting lid and use aluminum foil to seal the sides. You can too place a heavy object on high of the lid to maintain it sealed.
- Low and Sluggish Dum Cooking: Cook dinner the biryani on low warmth for the “dum” cooking course of. This enables the flavors to meld collectively, and the rice to totally take in the fragrant spices.
- Relaxation Earlier than Serving: After the biryani is cooked, permit it to relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than serving. This helps the flavors meld and the rice to agency up.

Regularly Requested Questions
Aged additional long-grain basmati rice. Kohinoor and Laxmi model Basmati rice is my favourite. They’re aged, fragrant, and don’t break when cooked correctly.
1. Hold a detailed eye on the rice when it is parboiling. Ensure to show the warmth off when it’s about 80% completed which takes about 5 to six minutes in boiling water.
2. Promptly drain the parboiled rice to stop it from cooking extra
3. In case you have overcooked rice, drain and unfold it in a layer in an enormous tray. Layer it fastidiously and cut back the ultimate gradual prepare dinner time to only ten minutes.
Undercooking rice could make the Biryani dry. Sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons of water on the rice layer earlier than the ultimate steaming of Biryani.
For those who discover the rice to be dry after you’ve got opened the sealed pot, sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons of sizzling water and hold the child closed for a further 10 minutes.
Extra Paneer Recipes You may Love
Recipe
Paneer Biryani
Traditional vegetarian Biryani recipe with cubed paneer marinated in warming spices, layerd with fragrant lengthy grain Basmati rice.
Servings: 6
Energy: 565kcal
Directions
-
To a medium mixing bowl add yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, salt, biryani masala, turmeric, pink chili powder, lemon juice, and mint leaves. Combine properly.
-
Add onion, peppers, and paneer to the marinade and stir gently to evenly coat with the marinade. Cowl and hold apart for half-hour permitting the paneer to marinate.
-
Soak saffron in heat milk and reserve.
-
Calmly fry cashews in 2 teaspoons of ghee till golden or air fry at 300 F for 4 minutes. Reserve.
-
Add ghee to a heavy-bottomed pan and add onions. On medium warmth, fry the onions stirring often till they begin to flip golden brown – about 15 to twenty minutes. Take out half of the fried onions from the pan leaving the remaining onions and extra ghee within the pan.
-
Rinse and drain the Basmati rice a few occasions. Add 4 cups of water. Soak for 20 minutes after which drain the water.
-
In a medium pot add 8 cups of water. Add cumin seeds, bay leaves, star anise, cardamom, cloves, and salt to the rice and convey the to a boil on excessive warmth.
-
Add drained rice to the boiling water. Carry the rice to a full boil on excessive warmth. Decrease the warmth to medium and prepare dinner uncovered for 4 to six minutes or till the rice is about 80% cooked. Drain the rice and reserve.
-
Within the pan with the remaining ghee and caramelized onions, add pureed tomatoes. Cook dinner stirring often on medium warmth for five minutes.
-
Add the marinated paneer and veggies and saute gently for five minutes or till all the things is simply heated by way of. Don’t overcook the paneer.
-
Gently layer partially cooked rice over the paneer and veggies. High with saffron-infused milk. Garnish with the reserved caramelized onions, and add fried cashews.
-
Safe aluminum foil across the lid to seal the pot tightly so the warmth doesn’t escape. You can too put some heavy weight on the lid as an alternative of utilizing the foil. Cook dinner coated on low warmth for 20 minutes.
-
Flip the warmth off and hold the lid closed for a further 10 minutes. Garnish with Cilantro. Gently fluff the rice whereas serving, don’t combine.
-
Serve with Raita and lemon wedges.
Diet
Energy: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 16g | Fats: 29g | Saturated Fats: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Trans Fats: 0.01g | Ldl cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 1409mg | Potassium: 346mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 848IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 367mg | Iron: 2mg
Writer: Archana
Hey there! I’m a techie turned recipe developer, cooking teacher, and meals blogger. I really like meals and luxuriate in creating straightforward and wholesome recipes for busy existence. I stay in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
Reader Interactions