Paneer Bhurji

What's needed to make paneer bhurji?

For this homemade paneer bhurji recipe, you will need the following basic ingredients:

Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions

• Paneer: Paneer is fresh non melting cheese from India. It's similar to cottage cheese. It's very easy to make at home and many Indians prefer making at home. Otherwise, you will easily find it in Indian or South Asian grocery stores. You could also check other supermarkets that sell international food items. Paneer is generally kept in refrigerated dairy section or frozen section.
• Green peas: I have used frozen peas but fresh peas can be used too. Fresh peas will take more time to get cooked. You can also cook fresh peas separately and then use them in the dish. Adding green peas is optional. You can add finely chopped bell pepper or spinach to paneer bhurji. This dish can be made without peas, peppers, and spinach too.
• Ginger and garlic: Use fresh ginger and garlic for better flavor. Otherwise store bought ginger garlic paste can be used too.
• Onion: Red onion is the best for Indian recipes. If you don't have red onion, white or brown onion can also be used.
• Green chilies: Skip, if you don't like spicy food.
• Tomato: Use a large juicy red tomato. You can also add tomato paste, for a richer tomato flavor. However, traditionally tomato paste is not used in Indian cooking.
• Cumin seeds: Most savory Indian dishes are tempered with one or more whole spices like cumin seeds, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds etc. This paneer dish is tempered is tempered with cumin seeds. You can use mustard seeds too.
• Spices: To flavor scrambled paneer, I have used dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi), turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, ground black pepper, and salt. You can also add other spices like garam masala powder, cumin powder, ground black pepper, or pav bhaji masala. All these basic ground spices are now easily available in most supermarkets around the world.
• Cilantro: Almost every savory Indian dish is garnished with finely chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves). If you don't like cilantro, skip it but don't garnish Indian dishes with parsley.
• Cooking oil: I prefer using mustard oil for cooking most of my North Indian dishes like this dish. Feel free to use any cooking oil of choice.

Other ingredient details and nutritional information are shared in the recipe card.

How to make (step by step instructions)?

To make this simple paneer recipe, just follow the easy step by step instructions given below:

Step 1:  Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds to it. Let the seeds splutter for a few seconds.

Step 2: Add chopped onion and cook until it becomes translucent.

Step 3: Add minced garlic and cook until the onion starts turning brown.

Step 4: Add coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and crushed kasoori methi. Sauté for a few seconds.

Step 5: Add tomato, green chilies, ginger, salt, and black pepper. 

Step 6: Mix and cook until the tomatoes turn mushy.

Steps 7 and 8: Add green peas and water. Mix. 

Step 9: Cover the pot and cook on medium heat until the peas are cooked well.

Step 10: Add crumbled paneer. 

Step 11: Mix and cook for around 2 minutes then turn off the heat.

Step 12: Garnish with finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves.

Enjoy you delicious and flavorful paneer bhurji.

Serving tips

Paneer bhurji is mostly eaten with roti, paratha, or any other Indian flat bread. You can also enjoy it with toasted bread or dinner roll. Or, just serve it as a side dish with some rice and dal.

Leftover Paneer bhurji can be used to make sandwich. To make grilled paneer sandwich, just apply green chutney or chili sauce on a bread slice, put some paneer bhurji on top, cover with another bread slice and grill. 

Storing, freezing, and reheating

Let the paneer bhurji cool completely then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2-3 days.

You can also freeze it in freezer safe containers for up to 3 months.

Don't leave paneer bhurji at room temperature for too long as it can get spoiled quickly like most dairy items.

To reheat, if the dish was frozen, thaw it first. Transfer to a pan. Add a little milk or water and reheat covered on stovetop. Keep stirring in between.

You can also microwave with a splash of milk or water for a minute. Stir and continue heating in short intervals until heated well. 

Don't overcook while reheating otherwise the paneer will turn rubbery.

Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions

• Fresh homemade paneer will give you the best result but store-bought paneer can be used too.
• If the store bought paneer doesn't feel soft, soak it in warm water for 10-15 minutes before using in the recipe. It will turn softer.
• Store bought paneer comes in a block form. To crumble paneer, either grate the paneer block with a grater or crumble it using your hands or a fork.
• Don't overcook paneer otherwise, it will turn rubbery.
• If your bhurji has turned out dry, add some milk and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Cook the onion-tomato base well to get a deeper flavor. Don't undercook onion or tomatoes in Indian dishes.
• Usually, in paneer bhurji vegetables like green peas, bell pepper, or spinach is added. But, if you want to add any other vegetable of choice, you can do that.
• Add a teaspoon of tomato paste to get a richer tomato flavor.

How to make paneer bhurji with gravy?

Though I like this paneer recipe in a slightly dry form, a lot of people prefer it with gravy.

For the gravy version, just add a cup of water once the tomatoes are cooked. Simmer for 5 minutes before adding the paneer, and then simmer for another 2-3 minutes with paneer. Finally add some garam masala and kasuri methi powder (optional), and cook for a minute. Your Paneer bhurji with gravy is ready!

More vegetarian Indian recipe ideas

If you enjoyed this easy paneer recipe and want to try more easy vegetarian Indian recipes in your kitchen then don't miss to check out the following links:

1. Aloo Baingan
2. Dry Aloo Matar
3. Bhindi Masala
4. Baingan Bharta
5. Mixed bean curry
6. Indian mixed vegetable curry
7. Red cabbage stir fry
8. Green pea curry
9. Spicy Indian baby potato salad
10. Tomato rice

More paneer recipes

Looking for more quick and easy paneer recipes? The following recipes are worth trying out:

1. Paneer do pyaza
2. Palak Paneer
3. Shahi Paneer
4. Paneer Jalfrezi
5. Paneer fried rice
6. Paneer sandwich
7. Paneer salad