Paneer Fried Rice is an Indo-Chinese rice stir-fry dish where rice is stir-fried with paneer, Chinese sauces, and crunchy veggies. Make it at home using my easy recipe.
Here are some more fried rice recipes: Chinese Mushroom Fried Rice, Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice, Thai Fried Rice, Korean Gochujang Fried Rice, and Kimchi Fried Rice.
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About Paneer Fried Rice
Paneer Fried Rice is an Indo-Chinese-style rice dish in which cooked rice is tossed with pan-fried paneer cubes, Chinese sauces, and veggies.
It is a popular dish served at Indo-Chinese style restaurants in India and worldwide.
This dish is easy to make, loaded with umami flavors, and great for a quick lunch or dinner. You can also pack it for school or office lunch boxes.
Kids also love this paneer rice recipe; it is a great way to include veggies and protein in their diet.
Serve it independently or with gravies such as Indo-Chinese Veg Manchurian, Vegetables In Hot Garlic Sauce, Gobi Manchurian, Sweet and Sour Vegetables, etc.
This recipe is also customizable! Add veggies or protein, or adjust the sauces and spices to suit your taste.
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.
To fry the marinated paneer, you will need any neutral-flavored cooking oil like canola, sunflower, or light olive oil.
For Fried Rice
Rice – Always use cooked cold rice to get the perfect results. This is a great recipe for using 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.
Check out my Instant Pot Basmati Rice post to learn how to cook basmati rice.
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 neutral-flavored cooking oil, green chilies, salt, black pepper powder, dark soy sauce, and vinegar.
If you are ok with eggs, scramble two eggs and add them to the ready-fried rice.
How To Make Paneer Fried Rice
Prepare The Paneer
Add the following ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
- 7 oz (200 g) paneer (cut into ½ inch pieces)
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
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 nonstick wok.
Heat over high heat.
Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add the following ingredients and sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- ½ cup finely chopped onions
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
- 2 teaspoon finely chopped green chilies
Add the following ingredients and cook for a minute.
- ½ cup finely diced green bell pepper
- ½ cup finely diced carrots
- ½ cup finely chopped green beans
- 2 tablespoon corn kernels
Add the following ingredients and mix well.
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
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
You can use tofu or other plant-based proteins like tempeh instead of paneer to make it vegan. 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 must add them to the wok one after the other, as 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.
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Recipe Card
Easy Indo Chinese Style Paneer Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
To Prepare The Paneer
- 7 ounces 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 nonstick 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!