Instant Pot Paneer Biryani

Paneer Biryani recipe is a delicious, flavorful, and easy one-pot rice recipe prepared from paneer, whole spices, biryani masala, and the long grain basmati rice in an Instant Pot pressure cooker or stovetop. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. It is perfect for office lunch boxes.

The pungent aroma of biryani is enough to draw our attention and tempt us to go buy a plateful of it. No matter what type of biryani you prefer— non-vegetarian or even vegetarian—the selection is unlimited, and the flavor is consistently excellent. How about cooking some delicious paneer biryani in a restaurant-style to add yet another biryani recipe to your menu? 

The two most loved foods in India are paneer and biryani. We then reasoned, why not combine both and create a paneer biryani? The finest of both worlds are combined in one bowl. Additionally, a variety of spices are used in this restaurant-style biryani to provide additional taste. This biryani goes well with raita and chutney!

This paneer biryani recipe has many variations, like paneer tikka biryani, paneer dum biryani, and street-style paneer biryani. All are equally tasty and flavorful.

Once you try this dish, we're confident you'll want more. So, let's get started with the recipe.

Ingredients

• Paneer: Homemade or store-bought paneer cubed into 1-inch pieces. You can also add vegetables of your choice, like potatoes, carrots, and beans.
• Rice: Traditionally, long grain Basmati Rice is used for making biryani, and I have used white basmati rice for this recipe.
• Water: I have used 1.5 cups of water for every cup of Basmati rice to make this biryani in Instant Pot. Adjust water based on the type and quality of rice.
• Ghee: adds extra flavor. If you are vegan, replace it with oil.
• Onion: I have sliced the onions lengthwise for this recipe.
• Green chilies: I have used Thai green chilies for the heat.
• Ginger and garlic:  I used fresh homemade ginger paste and garlic paste. You can also mince and add them.
• Yogurt: use fresh plain yogurt.
• Herbs & spices: Used mint and coriander leaves for herbs, red chili powder, turmeric, and biryani masala for dry spices. I highly recommend using Shan Biryani Masala because it gives Restaurant Style Biryani flavor.
• Whole Spices: Used bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom.
• Lime Juice: Use fresh lime/lemon juice whenever possible.

How to Make Paneer Biryani in Instant Pot

Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Heat ghee (or oil), add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cardamom, and cloves. *Vegans can use oil instead of ghee.

Then add sliced onions, green chilies, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown - stir regularly.

Add mint, coriander leaves, yogurt (curd), turmeric powder, red chili powder, biryani masala powder, and fried paneer, and mix well.

Add rinsed basmati rice, water, and salt. Give a quick stir.

Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.

Once the pot beeps, Wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE(NPR).

Squeeze some lime juice, mix well, and Instant Pot pressure cooker Paneer Biryani is ready to serve with Onion Raita or plain yogurt.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

• Firstly, heat a pressure cooker with oil on medium flame, add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cardamom, and cloves.
• Then add sliced onions, green chilies, and ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown - stir regularly.
• Add mint, coriander leaves, curd, turmeric powder, red chili powder, biryani masala powder, and fried paneer. Mix well.
• Then add rinsed basmati rice, water, and salt. Give a stir.
• Cover the cooker with a lid and cook for one whistle.
• Squeeze some lime juice, mix well, and pressure cooker Paneer Biryani is ready to serve with Onion Raita or plain yogurt.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Paneer Biryani with any kurma, or with a side of yogurt or raita along with some mango lassi.

Tips & Variations

• For Vegans, you can skip yogurt and add lime juice or 1 medium tomato.
• I have shallow-fried paneer in a pan for biryani, but you can add raw paneer itself.
• You can get biryani masala powder from any Indian grocery store or Amazon. You can use any brand. If you don't get biryani powder, then replace it with the same quality as garam masala powder.
• You can increase or decrease spices accordingly.
• If you want to make it more healthy, add some vegetables along with paneer to this biryani.
• You can add fried onions on top before serving.
• If you think your paneer is becoming chewy after pressure cooking, saute paneer separately and add in the end or use homemade paneer.

More Paneer Recipes

• Paneer Tikka
• Matar Paneer
• Paneer Bhurji
• Paneer Butter Masala
• Palak Paneer
• Paneer Fingers
• Paneer Kheer

More Veg-Style Biryani Recipes

• Vegetable Biryani
• Spinach Biryani
• Potato Biryani
• Chole Biryani
• Soya Chunks Biryani
• Mushroom Biryani
• Quinoa Biryani

★ Like this recipe? FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube for more quick & easy recipes.