A homemaker from Ranchi named Neha has shared a recipe that comes together in barely a quarter of an hour but tastes like something straight out of a restaurant kitchen. The dish is called Paneer Thecha Rice, where a coarsely pounded, spicy thecha masala meets soft cubes of paneer for a punchy, tangy flavour. What makes it especially handy is that almost every ingredient it needs is something most Indian kitchens already stock.
Start With A Coarsely Pounded Thecha Masala
The process begins by setting the rice aside in a separate bowl. Next, take 4 to 5 garlic cloves, green chillies and coriander leaves, and pound them coarsely in a mortar and pestle. The key here is to avoid grinding the mixture into a smooth paste, it needs to stay coarse, since that texture is what gives the dish its authentic thecha character. Once pounded, this masala is also kept aside to be added to the tempering later.
Temper The Spices And Roast The Paneer Golden
Heat two spoons of oil in a kadhai, and once it is hot, add a tempering of cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves. As soon as the tempering crackles, add the coarsely pounded thecha masala to the kadhai. Cut paneer into small pieces and mix it in. Season with a little salt, a touch of turmeric, some coriander powder and a bit of mixed masala, then roast the paneer until it turns golden brown.
Add The Rice And Fry It On A High Flame
Once the paneer has turned golden, tip in the rice that was set aside earlier and fry it on a high flame for just 2 minutes, no longer. Overcooking at this stage can break the rice grains and spoil the dish's texture. Just before taking it off the heat, squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and mix everything together well. The rice is then ready to be served hot.
A Tangy Break From Sweets During Festival Season
During festivals, eating sweets back to back often leaves the palate feeling heavy and overloaded with sugar. A spicy, tangy dish like Paneer Thecha Rice offers a welcome change of taste at such times. It works well as a lunch option too, a restaurant-style fried rice that can be put together at home in very little time and at a fraction of the cost of eating out.
