Paneer Fried Rice is an Indo-Chinese style rice stir fry dish where rice is stir-fried with paneer, sauces, and lots of crunchy veggies. Make it at home using my easy recipe (vegetarian).
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About Paneer Fried Rice
Paneer Fried Rice is an Indian-Chinese style rice dish where cooked rice is tossed with pan-fried paneer cubes, Chinese sauces, and lots of veggies.
It is a very popular dish served at Indo-Chinese style restaurants in India and all over the world.
This dish is super easy to make, loaded with umami flavors and is great to make for a quick lunch or dinner. You can also pack it for school or office lunch boxes.
Kids also love this paneer fried rice recipe and it is a great way to include veggies and protein in their diet.
This recipe is also customizable! You can add veggies or protein of your choice or adjust the sauces and spices to suit your taste.
This paneer rice recipe is vegetarian and you can easily double or triple it as per your requirement.
Here are some more fried rice recipes
- Mushroom Fried Rice
- Vegetable Fried Rice
- Thai Fried Rice
- Gochujang Fried Rice
- Kimchi Fried Rice
- Szchezwan Fried Rice
- Egg Fried Rice
- Hibachi Fried Rice
- Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients
To Marinate The Paneer
Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) – You can use fresh or frozen paneer. If using frozen paneer, thaw it to room temperature.
Paneer cubes are marinated with dark soy sauce, ketchup, and cornstarch.
Use firm paneer cubes, either store-bought or homemade.
You will need any neutral-flavored cooking oil to fry the marinated paneer. Use canola oil, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, light olive oil, etc.
For Fried Rice
Rice – Always use cooked cold rice to get the perfect results. It is a great recipe to use leftover rice.
You can use any variety of white rice (basmati rice, sona masuri, or jasmine rice) or make it healthier by substituting it with brown rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa, or couscous.
I like to make it using long-grain basmati rice. The grains of basmati rice are fluffier and longer making the fried rice recipe great in texture.
To know how to cook basmati rice, check out my Instant Pot Basmati Rice post.
Veggies – Onions, ginger, and garlic are a must to make any fried rice recipe. Apart from these, I have added veggies like green bell pepper (capsicum), carrots, green beans, and corn kernels.
You can also use green cabbage, purple cabbage, mushrooms, celery, zucchini, red and yellow bell peppers, baby corn, green peas, Chinese greens, etc.
Spring onions are a great topping and garnishing for any Chinese-style recipe. I always use them for mine.
Others – You will need any neutral-flavored cooking oil, green chillies, salt, black pepper powder, dark soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar.
If you are ok with eggs, then scramble 2 eggs and add them to the ready-fried rice.
How To Make Paneer Fried Rice
Prepare The Paneer
Add
- 7 oz (200 g) paneer (cut into ½ inch pieces)
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
in a bowl and mix well.
Heat 2 tablespoon cooking oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, transfer the marinated paneer cubes to the pan and arrange them in a single layer.
Cook for a minute, then flip the pieces and cook for another minute.
Remove the paneer on a plate and keep it aside.
Make The Fried Rice
Add the leftover oil from frying the paneer and an additional 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a wok.
Heat over high heat.
Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add
- ½ cup finely chopped onions
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
- 2 teaspoon finely chopped green chilies
and sauté until the onions turn translucent.
Add
- ½ cup finely diced green bell pepper
- ½ cup finely diced carrots
- ½ cup finely chopped green beans
- 2 tablespoon corn kernels
and cook for a minute.
Add
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
and mix well.
Now add 3 cups of cooked cooled white rice and toss well.
Tip – Separate the rice grain using your fingers before adding it to the wok.
Add the fried paneer cubes and mix well to combine.
Garnish with 2 tablespoon chopped green onions and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make it vegan, you can use tofu or other plant-based proteins like tempeh instead of paneer. All the other ingredients used in this recipe are vegan-friendly.
Pro Tips By Neha
Keep all the ingredients prepared and ready near the stove. You will have to add them to the wok one after the other and any delay can cause burning.
Cook the fried rice over high heat for the best smoky flavor.
Do not overcook the veggies, they should retain a little bite in them.
The choice of wok is very important for a great flavor! Use carbon steel or cast iron wok for the best texture and flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Serve it on its own with a side of Chinese Schezwan Sauce.
You can also serve gravies such as Indo-Chinese Veg Manchurian, Vegetables In Hot Garlic Sauce, Gobi Manchurian, Sweet and Sour Vegetables, etc on the side.
Storage Suggestions
Fried paneer rice can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Reheat it in a pan or microwave until nice and warm.
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Recipe Card
Easy Indo Chinese Style Paneer Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
To Prepare The Paneer
- 7 ounce paneer (200 g, cut into ½-inch pieces)
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon tomato ketchup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
For Fried Rice
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- ½ cup finely chopped onions
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped green chilies
- ½ cup finely diced green bell pepper (capsicum)
- ½ cup finely diced carrots
- ½ cup finely chopped green beans
- 2 tablespoons corn kernels
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- 3 cups cooked and cooled white rice
- 2 tablespoons chopped spring onions
Instructions
Prepare The Paneer
- Add paneer, soy sauce, ketchup, and cornstarch in a bowl and mix well.
- Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, transfer the paneer cubes to the pan and arrange them in a single layer.
- Cook for a minute, then flip the pieces and cook for another minute.
- Remove the paneer on a plate and keep it aside.
Make The Fried Rice
- Add the leftover oil from frying the paneer and an additional 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a wok.
- Heat over high heat.
- Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add onions, ginger, garlic, and green chilies, and sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- Add bell pepper, carrots, green beans, and corn kernels, and cook for a minute.
- Add salt, pepper powder, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar and mix well.
- Now add white rice and toss well.
- Tip – Separate the rice grain using your fingers before adding it to the wok.
- Add the fried paneer cubes and mix well to combine.
- Check for salt and pepper and add more if required.
- Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!