Paneer Biryani is a super satisfying vegetarian meal with aromatic fluffy basmati rice, and pillowy soft chunks of flavorful paneer marinated in warming spices. Garnished with caramelized onions, saffron-infused milk, and herbs this gluten-free meal is perfect for everyday as well as special occasions.
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My Instant Pot Paneer Biryani has been super popular since I published it 6 years ago. The simpler take on the traditional stove top recipe, the Instant Pot version made it possible to cook Biryani in one pot and with a fraction of the time.
I am grateful to each one of you who has tried it and made it part of your family dinner table. Over the years I have received many requests for a stovetop paneer biryani recipe and I am super excited to share it finally.
In this recipe, I am sharing detailed steps with all of my tips to make Paneer Biryani using the traditional stovetop method - from marinating paneer to making the crispy golden fried onions and cooking fluff rice to perfection so each grain is separate. And lastly how to make the final layer of garnish so the final dish looks colorful with authentic taste!
I hope you enjoy this Vegetarian Biryani along with the Chicken Biryani Recipe: both cooked using the traditional stove-top method and tested to perfection!
Ingredients
Marinating
- Paneer - homemade paneer or store-bought paneer works. If you have frozen paneer, make sure to thaw it before. Gopi Paneer and Sach Paneer are some of my favorite Paneer brands. They are available in Indian grocery stores as well as at some Costco and Whole Foods.
- Vegetables - red onion and bell pepper add a nice pop of color as well as texture to the Biryani
- Yogurt - plain whole milk or low-fat milk yogurt is perfect for marinating
- Ginger and Garlic - homemade fresh ginger paste and garlic paste add an authentic taste and aroma to the biryani.
- Ground Spices - red chili powder, turmeric, and biryani masala add perfect aroma and warmth to the dish. I love Kashmiri red chili powder as it adds a vibrant orange hue to the marinade without adding too much heat.
- Lemon - freshly squeezed lemon juice adds tangy flavors and balances the spicy flavors
- Mint - fresh mint adds authentic flavors and is a great way to incorporate some herbs in this dish.
Rice, Aromatics, Spices
- Basmati Rice - Good quality, aromatic, and aged long-grain Basmati rice is a must for making Biryani. Kohinoor extra long grain Basmati rice and Laxmi extra long Basmati Rice are a staple in my pantry and are available in Indian grocery stores in the US.
- Onions - yellow onions fried golden-crisp are a must in Biryani as well as as a garnish on top. Make sure to slice the onions thin so they cook faster. The onions will be soft when you take them out of the hot ghee but will crisp up as they cool down
- Ghee - a must for nutty taste, the ghee is used to fry onions as well as to cook the biryani
- Tomato - pureed ripe tomato makes a tangy base for the paneer to cook
- Whole Spices - black cumin seeds (shah jeera), cloves, star anise, green cardamom, and bay leaves are infused in the hot water used to cook the rice
- Saffron - infused in milk, saffron adds a pop of yellow color to the rice.
- Cashews - optional garnish. Fry whole raw unsalted cashews in ghee until lightly golden or you can also pop them in the air fryer at 300 F for 4 minutes
How to Make Paneer Dum Biryani
Here is a step-by-step recipe with photos showing how to make perfect biryani.
1: Marinate the Paneer
Start by marinating the paneer. Make sure to use fresh spices, herbs, and good-quality paneer.
I have used homemade biryani masala in this recipe but you can also use store-bought. Garam masala is also a good substitute if that is what you have on hand.
2. Make crispy fried onions
I prefer to shallow fry onions in lesser ghee instead of deep frying them. You can choose either method and use oil instead of ghee. Just make sure to stir them constantly and turn the heat off once they start to become golden brown as they will continue to cook even after the heat is turned off.
Reserve half of the onions for garnish and cook the marinated paneer in the remaining half.
3: Parboil the rice
Rinse the rice a few times and then soak it in water for 20 minutes. Drain again.
Cook the rice in boiling water infused with whole spices. It should be only partially cooked, as it will finish cooking when the biryani is "dum" cooked (slow-cooked in a sealed pot).
Drain the rice and reserve.
4: Layering
Saute the marinated paneer in the pot with leftover crispy onions along with pureed tomatoes. Make sure to saute only until everything is just heated through. Do not overcook the paneer.
Gently layer partially cooked rice over the paneer and veggies. You may choose to take out half of the paneer and veggies, layer over half of the rice, and then repeat with the other half of the paneer and rice.
Add the garnish layers - saffron-infused milk, reserved caramelized onions, and golden fried cashews.
5: Seal and slow cook AKA "Dum"
Seal the lid tightly by securing aluminum foil around the lid to prevent any steam from escaping the pot. You can also put something heavy like a pestle on the lid.
Cook on the lowest heat. This method of slow cooking is also known as "Dum" and hence the term Dum Biryani.
Allow the Biryani to rest for at least 10 minutes with the lid closed before serving.
How to Serve Paneer Biryani
Gently fluff the rice without mixing it too much. This will prevent the grains from breaking especially when the rice is hot.
Serve Biryani with lemon wedges, Beet Raita or Cucumber Raita.
When hosting friends and family I love to Pair Paneer Biryani with Mango Lassi, Parathas, Dal Makhani, and Gajar Halwa for a delicious Indian meal.
Storing
Leftover Paneer Biryani can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days. You can also freeze the Biryani for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Sprinkle a few spoons of water over the Biryani and reheat in the microwave or a stovetop pan.
Tips to Make Perfect Biryani with Fluffy Rice
Biryani is a beloved and flavorful South Asian dish that can be a bit tricky to perfect, but with practice and attention to detail, you can make a delicious biryani. Here are some tips to help you make the perfect biryani:
- Choose the Right Rice: Use aged extra long-grain Basmati rice, as it absorbs flavors well and doesn't become mushy when cooked. Soak the rice for at least 20 minutes before cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Choose Right Pots: Unlike Instant Pots that come in standard sizes, we all have different-sized pots and pans in our kitchen. Make sure you use a heavy-bottom casserole pot for cooking Biryani and use a saucepan that is big enough to parboil the rice with lots of water. For the proportions of Biryani in this recipe a 4QT casserole and a 3QT saucepan work well. They will be about ¾th filled when the biryani is fully layered and when the rice is parboiled.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh and high-quality ingredients make a huge difference in the final taste of your biryani. This includes fresh spices, vegetables, and protein.
- Add Aromatics: Biryani is known for its aromatic spices and herbs. Use a combination of spices like cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaves, and don't forget fresh mint and coriander leaves. Layer them between the rice and meat/vegetables for a burst of flavor.
- Homemade Biryani Masala: Make your biryani masala from scratch. This gives you control over the flavors and allows you to adjust the spice level to your liking.
- Don't Overcook the Rice: Parboil the rice before layering it. It should be only partially cooked (80%), as it will finish cooking when the biryani is "dum" cooked (slow-cooked in a sealed pot). Overcooked rice will become mushy.
- Seal the Pot: To ensure that the flavors are locked in, seal the pot with a tight-fitting lid and use aluminum foil to seal the edges. You can also place a heavy object on top of the lid to keep it sealed.
- Low and Slow Dum Cooking: Cook the biryani on low heat for the "dum" cooking process. This allows the flavors to meld together, and the rice to fully absorb the aromatic spices.
- Rest Before Serving: After the biryani is cooked, allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors meld and the rice to firm up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aged extra long-grain basmati rice. Kohinoor and Laxmi brand Basmati rice is my favorite. They are aged, aromatic, and do not break when cooked properly.
1. Keep a close eye on the rice when it's parboiling. Make sure to turn the heat off when it is about 80% done which takes about 5 to 6 minutes in boiling water.
2. Promptly drain the parboiled rice to prevent it from cooking more
3. If you have overcooked rice, drain and spread it in a layer in a big tray. Layer it carefully and reduce the final slow cook time to just ten minutes.
Undercooking rice can make the Biryani dry. Sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons of water on the rice layer before the final steaming of Biryani.
If you notice the rice to be dry after you have opened the sealed pot, sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons of hot water and keep the kid closed for an additional 10 minutes.
More Paneer Recipes You'll Love
- Paneer Makhani
- Palak Paneer
- Paneer Jalfrezi
- Palak Paneer Parathas
- Paneer Kathi Rolls
- Paneer Tikka Kebabs
Recipe
Paneer Biryani (Authentic + Fool-proof Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons ghee
- 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
To Marinate
- 0.75 lbs paneer cut into 1 inch cubes (300 grams ~ 3 cups)
- ½ red pepper cut into 1 inch cubes (½ cup)
- 1 small red onion cut into 1 inch cubes (½ cup)
- 2 teaspoon biryani masala
- 2 teaspoons ginger paste
- 2 teaspoon garlic paste
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons kashmiri red chili powder
- ⅓ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves rough chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¾ cup plain yogurt
Remaining Ingredients
- 1 medium ripe tomato pureed ½ cup
- 2 cups Extra long grain Basmati rice
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 star anise
- 3 green cardamom pods
- 6 cloves
- 1½ tablespoons kosher salt
Instructions
- To a medium mixing bowl add yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, salt, biryani masala, turmeric, red chili powder, lemon juice, and mint leaves. Mix well.
- Add onion, peppers, and paneer to the marinade and stir gently to evenly coat with the marinade. Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes allowing the paneer to marinate.
- Soak saffron in warm milk and reserve.
- Lightly fry cashews in 2 teaspoons of ghee until golden or air fry at 300 F for 4 minutes. Reserve.
- Rinse and drain the Basmati rice a couple of times. Add 4 cups of water and soak for 20 minutes.
- While the rice is soaking, add ghee to a heavy-bottomed pan and add onions. On medium heat, fry the onions stirring frequently until they start to turn golden brown - about 15 to 20 minutes. Take out half of the fried onions from the pan leaving the remaining onions and excess ghee in the pan.
- In a medium pot add 8 cups of water. Add cumin seeds, bay leaves, star anise, cardamom, cloves, and salt to the rice and bring the to a boil on high heat.
- Drain the soaked rice and add it to the boiling water. Bring the rice to a full boil on high heat. Lower the heat to medium and cook uncovered for 5 to 6 minutes or until the rice is about 80% cooked. Drain the rice promptly and reserve.
- To the pan with the remaining ghee and caramelized onions, add pureed tomatoes. Cook stirring frequently on medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the marinated paneer and veggies and saute gently for 5 minutes or until everything is just heated through. Do not overcook the paneer.
- Gently layer partially cooked rice over the paneer and veggies. Top with saffron-infused milk. Garnish with the reserved caramelized onions, and add fried cashews.
- Secure aluminum foil around the lid to seal the pot tightly so the heat does not escape and the flavors are locked in. You can also place a heavy object on top of the lid to keep it sealed. Cook covered on low heat for 20 minutes.
- After the biryani is cooked, allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors meld and the rice to firm up.Garnish with Cilantro. Gently fluff the rice with a fork, do not mix.
- Serve with Raita and lemon wedges.
Video
Notes
- Rice: Use aged extra long-grain Basmati rice, as it absorbs flavors well and doesn't become mushy when cooked. Soak the rice for at least 20 minutes before cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Pots: Make sure to use a heavy-bottom casserole pot for cooking Biryani and use a saucepan that is big enough to parboil the rice with lots of water. For the proportions of Biryani in this recipe a 4QT casserole and a 3QT saucepan work well. They will be about ¾th filled when the biryani is fully layered and when the rice is parboiled.
- Don't Overcook the Rice: Parboil the rice before layering it. It should be only partially cooked (80%), as it will finish cooking when the biryani is "dum" cooked (slow-cooked in a sealed pot). Overcooked rice will become mushy.
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