Methi-Paneer Rice(Fenugreek Greens & Cottage Cheese Rice)

Preparing a lunch box for school kids is one challenging task as many of the mothers would agree! 
Bringing variety, keeping it healthy and tasty as well as finishing off before 7:45 in the morning knocks off air from me many a days.The lunch should also be filling also as by the time my daughter comes back from school it is almost 4:30 in the evening.  I still wonder how my mom used to juggle all this comfortably before rushing off to work !!


This Methi-Paneer rice is one such dish that packs a punch --  my daughter is happy that paneer is in her dish, i am happy that greens are in her dish.  The goodness of methi leaves is well documented .It is also not a very difficult dish to assemble in the morning !


My mom makes this dish using sambhar powder instead of garam masala or any biryani powder. I have added a little garam masala too other than the Sambhar powder--


The other variations you can bring to this dish is by adding tofu or soya chunks instead of paneer !!

Here's my take :-
Ingredients:-

• Rice - 1 cup (cooked)
• Fresh Methi Leaves (Fenugreek greens) - A bunch (washed & roughly chopped)
• Paneer (cottage cheese) - 200 gms (cubed)
• Onions - 2 (chopped)
• Green Peas - 1 cup 
• Bell Pepper - 1 (diced)
• Baby corn - a cup (diced)
• Sambhar Powder - 1 tbsp
• Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
• garam Masala - 1 tsp (optional)
• Salt - to taste
• Butter - 1 tbsp
• Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
• Mace - little
• Coriander Leaves - a handful (for garnish)

How:-

Keep the methi leaves and rice ready . Soak the paneer if using store bought in hot water for some time to remove impurities. Cube then and set aside.

In a kadai add butter and let the fennel seeds splutter ! Add mace and cardamom and stir it before adding onions. Saute the onions till they turn a lovely pink, add peas and pepper ! Let the cook for some time ! Now add baby corn and give them a quick toss.

Add all the masalas (spices) as per taste - let the taste buds dictate the spices to add sizzle to the dish. Cook the whole mix with a little water till the rawness dissipates.

Add the methi greens and cook them till it wilts before adding the cubed paneer. Add salt to taste and give it a good mix.

Finally add the cooked rice and mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves and fried bread pieces.

Enjoy with crunchies or salads or raitha

Linking this to Torview's Food Palette : Green