Vegetable Fried Rice

 Vegetable Fried Rice is a sumptuous Asian meal by itself which is loaded with fresh vegetables and lots of flavors and can be cooked under 30 minutes. It is a  tasty as well as a healthy meal and you can customize it with your favorite vegetables, spices and even non-vegetarian items. There is no need of any side dishes with it but most of them like it with Chinese dishes like Veg Manchurian or chili paneer or other veg curries. If you like meat you can add Chili chicken or Chicken Manchurian etc.

In order to cook rice we can use two methods , first one is absorption method which is useful for less quantity of rice and the second method is draining method which is used when rice quantity is more. It is very important to cool the rice after cooking . Then allow all the steam to reduce and then add a teaspoon of oil and spread gently and cover it ,this prevents the rice from drying and becoming hard.

When using vegetables for fried rice try using fresh one rather than frozen or old vegetables. Try to chop all the veggies in same shape so that the fried rice looks perfect. Fry the rice for 3 minutes on a high flame.

Use long grain rice such as jasmine or basmati rice. use veggies of your choice here I am using carrot, beans, bell pepper, green peas, green onions, cabbage etc. In addition to it you can use mushrooms, broccoli etc. By adding fried egg and mixing it well to this rice we can prepare egg fried rice .By adding chicken boiled with salt , pepper and turmeric or by frying chicken and adding to this rice we can prepare chicken fried rice. If we add both chicken and egg we can name it as mixed fried rice. Try this recipe at home and I am sure everyone from children to adults will like this.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Sevings: 2

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1 teaspoon vinegar 
• 1  tablespoon soya sauce
• Salt per taste
• 2 tablespoon oil
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped green beans
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup chopped cabbage
• 1 green chili
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Wash rice few times until water is clear.
• Soak in water for 10 minutes .
• Boil 5 cups of water in a pot.
• When water boils add rice to water and add 1 teaspoon of oil.
• Cook rice and drain water from rice and cool it.
• Heat oil on high flame and fry chopped garlic
• Add vegetables and fry for 3 minutes. Fry until vegetables become little crispy.
• Add soya sauce and add vinegar and sugar. Adding sugar and vinegar is optional but it makes fried rice more tasty.
• Add rice to this and add salt and black pepper.
• Garnish with green onions.
• You can add fried paneer , tofu or egg to rice.

Kadai Paneer

 Kadai Paneer is an Indian Curry used as a side dish for Chapati, rice etc. It has a unique taste and its spicy and flavorful. The spiciness in Kadai Paneer can be adjusted as per your taste. It got its unique taste from the spices used in the curry. Fried paneer cooked in tomato, onion, capsicum gravy with kadai masala is one of the delicious paneer recipes. It is one of the best vegetarian dishes that you ever try. It is not only tasty but also very easy to cook at home. once prepared you can store it in refrigerator for at least 3 days. But make sure to reheat it with a little butter and garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Choose fresh paneer, if it is frozen make sure to soak them in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes before using them  Choose fresh large, red and ripe tomato for making puree. For preparing kadai paneer we have three main steps first one is preparing kadai masala and second one frying paneer and the final one is making kadai paneer gravy.

If you want more gravy in kadai paneer pour water as per your need and simmer until the gravy becomes thick.

PREP TIME: 35 MINUTES

COOK TIME:55 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME: 90 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

Kadai Masala:

• 2 tablespoon coriander seed
• 2 teaspoon fennel seed
• 4 clove
• 4 cardamom
• 2 dried chilly

Kadai Paneer:

• 6  tablespoon butter
• 1  tablespoon ginger garlic paste
• 250 gram paneer
• 3 chopped green chilly
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 capsicum cubed
• 1 onion layers separated
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 tomato pureed
• 1 small cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon  garam masala
• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chilly powder
• salt
• 1 teaspoon kasuri methi
• 3 tablespoon  coriander  leaves chopped
• 4  coriander  cream( optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

• For masala : Add 2 tablespoon coriander seed,2 teaspoon fennel seed,4 clove,4 cardamom,2 dried chilly in a pan and dry in a low flame
• Cool once it is dried and blend  it to make smooth powder.
• To fry paneer melt butter in medium to low flame
• Fry paneer in until it becomes golden brown.
• Keep paneer in a tissue to remove excess oil.
• For making gravy melt butter in medium to low flame in a an.
• Saute bay leaf , cumin seed, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and heat in medium to low flame.
• Add ginger garlic paste and green chilly until raw smell appears.
• Add chopped onion and saute.
• Add tomato puree and cook  for 4 minutes on medium flame.
• Add chilly powder, turmeric powder, salt, kadai masala and garam masala powder.
• Mix all spices for 10 to 15 minutes until gravy becomes thick.
• Then pour water and cover pan , simmer on low flame.
• After some time open lid and add kasuri methi and coriander leaves and mix well.
• Add layer cut onion and capsicum and mix well.
• Add fried paneer and cook for 3 minutes.
• If you have cream you can add that but it is completely optional.