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Home » Recipes » Biryani

Instant Pot Paneer Biryani

Feb 25, 2023. by Bhavana Patil. 4 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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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.

Paneer Biryani served in a bowl with spices on the side
Paneer Biryani

Being famous with the name 'Paneer,' Indian cottage cheese is one of the famous ingredients that brings a unique taste when added to different dishes.

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.

Jump to:
  • Health benefits of Paneer?
  • What kind of rice is used in Biryani
  • Paneer Biryani Ingredients
  • How to Make Paneer Biryani in Instant Pot
  • Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
  • What to Serve with Paneer Biryani?
  • Tips & Variations
  • More Paneer Recipes
  • More Veg-Style Biryani Recipes
  • Instant Pot Paneer Biryani

Health benefits of Paneer?

  • It is a rich source of protein, and thus, it is ideal for vegetarians.
  • It fulfills your daily calcium needs too. This helps your bones to grow faster and stronger.
  • The study shows that people who eat food rich in Vitamin D and calcium have fewer chances of breast cancer infection.
  • It is a highly-recommended food for pregnant women because of its nutritional value. However, you should consult your physician before use.

What kind of rice is used in Biryani

A classic biryani is made using basmati rice. This rice is thinner and longer than traditional rice. I prefer Daawat Traditional Basmati Rice or Tilda Legendary Rice Pure Original Basmati brands.

Paneer Biryani 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 have used a paste made from fresh ginger and garlic. 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.

step to saute whole spices collage

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

step to saute onions till golden brown collage

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

step to add paneer and dry spices collage

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

step to add rice and water collage

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).

step to pressure cook paneer biryani collage

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

step to add lemon juice to biryani collage

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.

What to Serve with Paneer Biryani?

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

More Veg-Style Biryani Recipes

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

If you’ve tried this easy paneer biryani recipe or any other recipe on Indianveggiedelight, then don’t forget to rate the recipe. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see the latest recipes!

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Paneer Biryani Instant Pot

Instant Pot Paneer Biryani

Bhavana Patil
Paneer Biryani Instant Pot recipe is very delicious, flavorful and easy one pot rice recipe prepared from paneer, whole spices, biryani masala and the long grain basmati rice
4.78 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 2
Calories : 300.2
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 10 minutes
Total Time : 20 minutes

Equipment

  • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1 cup paneer (cottage cheese) fried
  • 1 medium onion thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
  • ¼ cup mint leaves
  • ¼ cup coriander leaves
  • 2 green chilles
  • ¼ cup curd (yogurt) (vegans can use dairy free)
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 2 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter) or oil
  • salt to taste

Whole Spices

  • 2 bay leaf
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • 2-3 cloves
  • 2 cardamom

Dry Spices

  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
  • ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon biryani masala powder

Instructions
 

Instant Pot Method

  • Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add ghee, and once it's hot, add Bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cardamom, and cloves. *Vegans can use oil instead of ghee.
    step to saute whole spices collage
  • Then add sliced onions, green chilies, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown - stir regularly.
    step to saute onions till golden brown collage
  • Add mint, coriander leaves, yogurt (curd), turmeric powder, red chili powder, biryani masala powder, and fried paneer and mix well.
    step to add paneer and dry spices collage
  • Add rinsed Basmati Rice, water, salt, and give a quick stir.
    step to add rice and water collage
  • 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).
    step to pressure cook paneer biryani collage
  • Squeeze some lime juice, mix well, and Pressure cooker Paneer Biryani is ready to serve with Onion Raita or plain yogurt.
    step to add lemon juice to biryani collage

Indian 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 chillies, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown in color - stir regularly.
  • Add mint, coriander leaves, curd, turmeric powder, red chili powder, biryani masala powder and fried paneer and mix well.
  • Then add rinsed basmati rice, water, salt, and give a stir.
  • Cover the cooker with lid and cook for 1 whistle.
  • Squeeze some lime juice, mix well and Paneer Biryani is ready serve with Onion Raita or plain yogurt.

Video

Notes

  1. For Vegans, you can skip yogurt and add lime juice or 1 medium tomato.
  2. I have shallow fried paneer in a pan for biryani, but you can add raw paneer itself.
  3. 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 with same quality of garam masala powder.
  4. You can increase or decrease spices accordingly.
  5. If you want to make it healthy add some vegetables along with paneer to this biryani.
  6. You can add fried onions on top before serving.
  7. If you think your paneer is becoming chewy after pressure cooking, saute paneer separately and add in the end or use homemade paneer.
 
No Pressure Cooker?: In case you do not have a pressure cooker, you can use a large pan and cook covered. However cooking time will be more. Also, in this method, add the paneer to the pan once the rice is half done.
 
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 0gCalories: 300.2kcalCarbohydrates: 42.2gProtein: 15gFat: 6.9gSaturated Fat: 1.8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2.4gCholesterol: 6.1mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 273mgFiber: 1.1gSugar: 4.2gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 6.8mgCalcium: 172mgIron: 1.1mg
Keyword cottage cheese biryani, instant pot, paneer biryani, paneer recipes
Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @indianveggiedelight or #indianveggiedelight

More 10+ Delicious Vegetarian Biryani Recipes

  • Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani
  • Mushroom Biryani Recipe (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
  • Palak Biryani (Spinach Biryani) - Instant Pot
  • Potato Biryani (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Priyanka says

    April 20, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy paneer biriyani i made it. It was perfectly cooked. Accurate measurements. I loved it. Thank you for yummy recipes

    Reply
    • Bhavana Patil says

      April 20, 2021 at 4:58 pm

      That's really awesome Priyanka 🙂 Thank you for trying out the recipe and sharing your feedback, I am very glad it turned out well. Keep trying more recipes from the blog. Have a great day 🙂

      Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    January 09, 2023 at 3:38 pm

    Brilliant recipe! We have tried it a several times and always a hit

    Reply
    • Bhavana Patil says

      January 10, 2023 at 2:20 pm

      Thank you so much for the kind words, made my day 🙂

      Reply

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