Tomato Paneer Pulao with Carrot and cucumber raita

 Back to blogging after a long long time!!

Tomato Paneer pulao

Ingredients

Tomato 5 

Onion 3

Paneer 250 gas

Capsicum 2

Basmati rice 2 cups

Spices 

Cinnamon 1 inch piece

Bay leaf 1

cumin seeds 1 tbsp

Cardamom 2

Turmeric powder 1 tsp

coriander powder 1 tbsp

Jeera powder 1 tsp

chilli powder

curd 1/2 cup

oil for shallow frying

garam masala one pinch

Kasuri methi 2 tbsp

Fresh coriander for garnish

Wash and soak basmati rice for half an hour in 4 cups of water. Slit tomatoes and put in boiling water for about 3 minutes..remove the skin, cool and blend it in a mixer. Finely chop onions. In a kadai, take 2 tsp oil and add cinnamon, jeera, bay leaf, elaichi, add the onions and sauté till light brown. Add some kasuri methi . Add the tomato puree, turmeric powder, chilli powder , salt , coriander powder and jeera powder and cook till oil separates.  Cut paneer into cubes and marinate it in a mixture of beaten curd with chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, jeera powder , salt and kasuri methi. After half an hour shallow fry the paneer cubes till light brown and keep aside. Take care not to break them. Sauté diced capsicum and keep aside.

When the rice is cooked 3/4th, add the tomato onion mixture and stir gently..cook in on a low flame till it is done. Add a spoon of ghee (optional) Garnish with fresh, finely cut coriander. Top it with the crisp paneer and serve hot with raita.

Carrot and Cucumber raita

Ingredients

Carrot 4 grated

Cucumber 4 diced into tiny pieces

Thick, fresh curd 2 cups

Salt to taste

Sugar 1/2 tsp

Coriander finely cut 2 tbsp

Oil 1 tsp

Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

udad dal 1/2 tsp

Mix the grated carrots and cucumber. Temper the mustard and udad dal and add it to the vegetables. In a bowl whisk the thick curd with sugar and salt till smooth and add it to the vegetables. Garnish it with fresh coriander. Add the curds just before serving, otherwise the raita will get watery.