Paneer bhurji is a very simple yet popular dish typically made from grated malai paneer cooked with finely chopped tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, green chilies, ginger, garlic, and a few common Indian spices. Cooked with little oil to perfection until dry, it is very quick to make this dish. Continue reading my recipe to learn the steps to make paneer bhurji at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Paneer bhurji is a popular North Indian dish enjoyed in many Indian households as a quick and comforting meal.
- Serve it with butter roti, paratha, toasted bread, or even as a filling for wraps and sandwiches.
- Paneer bhurji has a mildly spiced, slightly creamy, savory, and earthy taste.
- Other similar recipes are paneer tikka masala, kadai paneer, and paneer butter masala.
The Ingredients:
- 300 grams malai paneer
- 2 pieces onions (medium size, finely chopped)
- 3 pieces tomatoes (small size, finely chopped)
- ¼ cup capsicum (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup yellow bell pepper (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup red bell pepper (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- ½ tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 tsp garlic (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp green chilies (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp ginger (finely chopped)
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ tsp coriander seed powder
- ¼ tsp cumin seed powder
- ¼ tsp garam masala powder
- ¼ tsp Kasuri methi (crushed)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp butter (optional)
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves (finely chopped)
This recipe came from a woman whom I met at a clinic. While both of us were waiting for our respective turns, she was looking at her phone for different recipes just to kill the long wait time. I started a chat with her about food, being a cooking enthusiast myself. We both liked this specific recipe mainly due to its minimal ingredient requirements and simplicity. She slowly and clearly read each step one by one and I captured it on my mobile.
I gave it a shot the following weekend at home and I also made a few minor alterations since I was not too sure about the result. Nevertheless, the dish turned out nice with the right taste and my husband told me it really gave the taste of home-cooked food as he was eating it and enjoying it slowly. My two sons gobbled up the first helping straight away and asked for more, which was a nice surprise to me and pretty pleasing as well. I felt I was very lucky to have exchanged a few words with this lady at the clinic.
How to Make Paneer Bhurji? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Take 300 grams of malai paneer, cut a bit of it into smaller cubes and grate the rest.
Step 2: Put ½ tsp of cumin seeds (jeera) in 1 tbsp of cooking oil when hot. Let them crackle. Then, fry 1 tsp of finely chopped garlic for a few seconds over a medium flame. Now, fry 2 pieces of onions (medium size, finely chopped) on a high flame until soft and translucent.
Step 3: Now, add 1 tbsp of green chilies and 1 tsp of ginger, followed by ¼ cup of capsicum, ¼ cup of yellow bell pepper, and ¼ cup of red bell pepper, all finely chopped.
Step 4: When dry, add ½ tsp of turmeric powder, ¼ tsp of Kashmiri red chili powder, ½ tsp of coriander seed powder, ¼ tsp of cumin seed powder, ¼ tsp of garam masala powder and ¼ tsp of crushed Kasuri methi. Mix well and cook for a little more than a minute over a medium flame. Add 3 pieces of small tomatoes (finely chopped) and 1 tsp of salt. Cook for about 2 minutes on a high flame now. Also, add 1 tsp butter (optional).
Step 5: Add the paneer along with 2 tbsp of finely chopped coriander leaves. Mix and cook for a minute.
Step 6: Your healthy and tasty homemade paneer bhurji is done. Serve it hot with butter roti.
Recipe Card
Paneer Bhurji
Ingredients
- 300 grams malai paneer
- 2 pieces onions medium size, finely chopped
- 3 pieces tomatoes small size, finely chopped
- ¼ cup capsicum finely chopped
- ¼ cup yellow bell pepper finely chopped
- ¼ cup red bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- ½ tsp cumin seeds jeera
- 1 tsp garlic finely chopped
- 1 tbsp green chilies finely chopped
- 1 tsp ginger finely chopped
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ tsp coriander seed powder
- ¼ tsp cumin seed powder
- ¼ tsp garam masala powder
- ¼ tsp Kasuri methi crushed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp butter optional
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Take 300 grams of malai paneer, cut a bit of it into smaller cubes and grate the rest.
- Put ½ tsp of cumin seeds (jeera) in 1 tbsp of cooking oil when hot. Let them crackle. Then, fry 1 tsp of finely chopped garlic for a few seconds over a medium flame. Now, fry 2 pieces of onions (medium size, finely chopped) on a high flame until soft and translucent.
- Now, add 1 tbsp of green chilies and 1 tsp of ginger, followed by ¼ cup of capsicum, ¼ cup of yellow bell pepper, and ¼ cup of red bell pepper, all finely chopped.
- When dry, add ½ tsp of turmeric powder, ¼ tsp of Kashmiri red chili powder, ½ tsp of coriander seed powder, ¼ tsp of cumin seed powder, ¼ tsp of garam masala powder and ¼ tsp of crushed Kasuri methi. Mix well and cook for a little more than a minute over a medium flame. Add 3 pieces of small tomatoes (finely chopped) and 1 tsp of salt. Cook for about 2 minutes on a high flame now. Also, add 1 tsp butter (optional).
- Add the paneer along with 2 tbsp of finely chopped coriander leaves. Mix and cook for a minute.
- Your healthy and tasty homemade paneer bhurji is done. Serve it hot with butter roti.
