Paneer Tawa Pulao: A Street-Style Mumbai Delight

Name: How to Make Paneer Tawa Pulao: A Street-Style Mumbai Delight | Easy & Delicious Paneer Tawa Pulao: A Street-Style Mumbai Delight Recipe
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: indian

Paneer Tawa Pulao is a Mumbai street-food–inspired rice dish made by tossing cooked rice with spiced pav bhaji masala, sautéed vegetables, and soft paneer cubes on a hot tawa. It’s aromatic, colourful, and hearty — perfect for lunch or dinner.

prep time 15 Mins

cook time 20 Mins

chef Ankita Singh

Tawa Pulao is one of Mumbai’s most popular street foods, often prepared on the same giant tawa used for pav bhaji. This version elevates the dish by adding paneer cubes, which soak up the masala flavours and add protein, making it more wholesome.

Cooked basmati rice is tossed with butter, onions, capsicum, tomatoes, green peas, and pav bhaji masala, creating a mildly spicy and tangy flavour. Paneer cubes are lightly sautéed before being mixed into the masala, ensuring a smoky, well-balanced dish.

Paneer Tawa Pulao is quick to prepare, filling, and naturally vegetarian. It pairs beautifully with raita, papad, or salad, making it a complete meal for both weekdays and festive occasions.

Step 1

Prep rice & paneer
Cook basmati rice and cool completely. Lightly sauté paneer cubes in 1 tsp oil until golden on edges. Keep aside.

Step 2

Sauté aromatics
On a large tawa (or pan), heat butter + oil. Add onion and green chilli. Sauté until onions turn soft. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook until raw smell goes.

Step 3

Add vegetables & spices
Add tomatoes and capsicum. Cook until tomatoes turn mushy. Add peas, turmeric, chilli powder, pav bhaji masala, and salt. Mix well.

Step 4

Toss rice & paneer
Add rice and paneer cubes. Mix gently so grains remain separate but coated with masala.

Step 5

Finish
Sprinkle lemon juice and garnish with coriander. Serve hot with raita or papad.

Tips and Tricks

Use leftover rice — cooled rice won’t turn mushy when mixed.
Don’t overcook paneer; keep it soft.
Add a small cube of butter at the end for authentic street-style flavour.
You can add other vegetables like carrots, beans, or corn for variation.
A dash of chaat masala enhances tanginess.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, substitute with garam masala + chaat masala, though flavour will differ.

Yes, for a healthier version, though the taste will differ slightly.

Yes, you can cook rice and prep veggies in advance. Just toss together before serving.

Calories 340 Kcal

Total Fat 12 g

Carbs 48 g

Protein 12 g

ESSENTIAL ITEMS

3 cups Cooked Basmati Rice

200 gm Paneer

1 piece Chopped Onion

2 piece Chopped Tomato

1 piece Capsicum

0.5 cup Green Peas

1 tsp Green Chili

1 tsp Ginger garlic Paste

2 tsp Pav Bhaji masala

1 tsp Red Chili Powder

0.25 tsp Turmeric Powder

as required Salt

1 tsp Lemon Juice

2 tbsp Butter

1 tbsp Oil

2 tbsp Fresh chopped Coriander Leaves

Recipe by:

Ankita Singh

255 Recipes

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Paneer Tawa Pulao: A Street-Style Mumbai Delight

Tips and Tricks

Frequently Asked Questions

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