Paneer, pea and spinach rice
This vegetarian rice dish with spinach, peas and herbs is easy to throw together and let simmer on the stove. Top with fried paneer just before serving.
Ingreadient
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tsp pilau spice (available from larger supermarkets) or mild curry powder
- 300g mixed wild and long grain rice
- 450ml vegetable stock
- 200g spinach
- 250g frozen peas, thawed
- 200g paneer cheese, cut into 2cm cubes
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- Small handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped, plus a few sprigs left whole
Instruction
- Heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a deep saucepan or sauté pan with a lid, then add the onions and fry for about 5-8 minutes until starting to soften. Stir in the garlic along with the pilau spice or curry powder, then cook for a few more minutes until fragrant.
- Meanwhile, put the rice in a sieve and rinse under cold running water before adding it to the pan. Stir to combine, then stir in the stock. Cover the pan with the lid and leave to cook on a gentle heat for 20 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the spinach and frozen peas. Leave the pan off the heat with the lid on to let the greens cook in the residual heat.
- Meanwhile, in a separate frying pan, heat the remaining oil over a medium heat, then add the paneer cubes and cook for a few minutes on each side until browned. Scatter the paneer over the rice and greens in the other pan, then fold in to combine. Garnish with the coriander leaves and sprigs and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over if you like.
