Tawa Pulao with Paneer | Indian Rice Recipes

Tawa Pulao is a classic Mumbai Street food. It is a quick food like chaats, cooked with veggies, rice and Indian spices. This was one dish which can be fixed within 30 mins, apt for my busy weekend cooking. i.e. The weekend where we have many programs. I had seen the tawa pulao in many of my blogger friends' site and wanted to try it. I googled and arrived at Sanjeev Kapoor's recipe for a simple and easy tawa pulao. 

Ingredients:
Raw Rice - 2 cups (Preferably Basmati or Sona Masoori)
Onion - 1/2 cup chopped fine
Tomato - 2 chopped fine
Mixed Vegetables - 1/2 cup of each (julienned carrot, red bell peppers, green bell peppers) - You may use whatever is available at hand
Paneer - cubed or julienned - 1/2 cup 
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Pav Bhaji Masala - 2 1/2 tsp (Available in Indian Grocery Stores)
Red Chilli paste - 1 tbsp (I used Tomato Chilli Sauce)
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp
Cilantro - To garnish
Lemon juice - 1 tsp

Method:

Cook the rice with a drizzle of oil and 1/2 tsp of salt adding 4 cups of water using pressure cooker or simple stove-top. When done, fluff with a fork and allow it to cool spreading on a wide pan/cookie sheet. In a wide skillet, add oil. When it is heated add the finely chopped onions followed by ginger paste. When the raw smell of ginger disappears add the chopped tomatoes. When the tomatoes becomes mushy, add the pav bhaji masala and red chilli paste. Mix well and add the vegetables and toss in high heat for a minute or two. Add salt and paneer now and give a quick mix. Reduce the heat to low and add the cooled cooked rice. Mix carefully such that the masala is well coated in the rice. Garnish with lemon juice and chopped cilantro/coriander leaves. Serve hot with any raitha of your choice.
Note: I sauted paneer in a tsp of oil before adding in here, though this step is optional. I microwaved carrots for 30 secs before adding here.

Sending this to Flavors of Maharastra event by Nayna guest hosted by PJ this month. Also to Bookmarked Recipes - Every Tuesday event by Aipi and Priya and Anyone Can Cook event by Ayisha.