Paneer bhurji is a popular North Indian dish made with Indian cottage cheese aka paneer, herbs and spice powders. It is eaten with roti, chapati, paratha, poori, bread, pav or as a side in a meal. Paneer bhurji can also be used as a stuffing in kathi rolls, sandwiches and bread rolls.
I make this bhurji in numerous ways. Here I have shared the simplest way that can be made just under 15 mins if you have the paneer ready.
Paneer bhurji is one of those sides that is made very often at my home for our breakfast or lunch box. My kids love this stuffed in the palak paratha or even in rotis, wraps, kathi rolls and grilled paneer sandwiches.
I always make paneer bhurji with fresh homemade paneer as the taste, texture & flavor is best with the homemade one. Most times store bought paneer really doesn’t taste that good to make paneer bhurji.
So in this post I have also shared how to make paneer just enough for this paneer bhurji recipe.
There are no fancy ingredients used in the recipe so even beginners can make it very easily. All you need to do is first crackle the spices and then fry the onions until transparent. Next just fry the ginger garlic paste and the saute the tomatoes until mushy.
The last step is to spice up the onion tomato masala and add the crumbled paneer and herbs. Under 15 minutes your delicious dish is ready.
More Paneer recipes,
Palak paneer
Matar paneer
Paneer lababdar
Preparation
Making paneer – Skip this section if you already have paneer.
1. Bring milk to a boil in a pot.
2. Add lemon juice to the boiling milk and stir. You can also use vinegar.
3. When you see the milk begins to curdle. Switch off the stove and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Place a muslin or cheese cloth over a colander. Pour the curdled milk to the cloth. Rinse it well under running water. Bring all the edges together and squeeze the paneer to drain off excess whey.
Make a knot and hang it for about 10 to 15 minutes until you prepare the onions and tomatoes.
5. We need moist paneer with no dripping whey from it.
How to make paneer bhurji
6. Pour oil to a hot pan. Add cumin and allow to crackle.
7. Transfer finely chopped onions and fry until they turn pink or golden.
8. Then add ginger garlic paste and fry until the raw smell disappears.
9. Add finely chopped tomatoes, turmeric and salt. Saute until the tomatoes turn mushy and soft. If needed you can cover and cook.
10. Next add garam masala, red chili powder and kasuri methi. If using amchur add it now.
11. Mix everything well and continue to cook till the mixture smells good. The raw smell of the masala has to go away. If using capsicum or peas, add them at this stage and saute until soft.
12. Add Crumbled paneer. Mix and stir well. Cook for just 2 to 3 minutes till the raw smell from paneer goes off. Do not over cook.
13. Lastly add coriander leaves and lemon juice.
Serve paneer bhurji with bread, roti or paratha.
Tips to make paneer bhurji
- Homemade paneer is the best to make soft mouth melting bhurji. If using store bought paneer then soak the paneer in some hot water or hot milk for about 20 mins. Then crumble it. This helps to keep the paneer soft in the bhurji.
- To make it healthier just add some veggies like carrots, peas, capsicum
& make mixed veg paneer bhurji. Some times I also use greens like methi & palak to make the paneer palak bhurji. - I known some people love scrambled eggs in their paneer bhurji. You can also scramble the eggs first and then add the crumbled paneer to it to make the paneer egg bhurji.
Related Recipes
Recipe card
Paneer bhurji
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 200 grams paneer crumbled (or 4 cups milk, 2 tsps lemon juice)
- 1½ tablespoon oil or as needed
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 medium onion (½ cup chopped finely)
- 1 green chilli chopped (skip for kids)
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste (or minced, fine chopped)
- 1 medium tomato (⅓ cup chopped finely)
- ¼ cup capsicum or green peas (optional)
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chilli powder
- ¾ teaspoon garam masala powder (adjust as needed)
optional
- ½ teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon Coriander leaves finely chopped
Instructions
To make paneer – skip this section if you have it
- Pour 4 cups milk to a pot and bring it to a boil.
- Add 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice and Stir.
- When the milk begins to curdle well, turn off the stove.
- If the milk does not curdle then add 1 tbsp more vinegar.
- Drain it to a colander lined with a muslin cloth. Rinse it well under running water.
- Squeeze off the excess whey and make a knot with the cloth.
- Hang the paneer for about 10 to 15 minutes to remove excess whey.
- Meanwhile chop the onions & tomatoes finely.
How to make paneer bhurji
- Add 1½ tbsp oil to a hot pan. Then add ½ tsp cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.
- Next add ½ cup finely chopped onions and 1 chopped green chilli.
- Fry until lightly golden to light brown.
- Then add 1 tsp ginger garlic paste or mince. Saute until the raw smell goes off.
- Add 1 finely chopped tomato, ¼ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp turmeric.
- Fry until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
- Then add ½ to ¾ tsp red chili powder, ½ tsp kasuri methi & ¾ tsp garam masala.
- Mix and saute until the raw smell goes off from the mixture & the masala leaves the sides of the pan.
- Stir in ¼ cup peas or capsicum if using. Fry until capsicum turns slightly soft.
- Crumble paneer well and add to the pan.
- Stir and fry till everything blends well just for 2 minutes.
- Taste it and check the salt and spice. If needed add more salt.
- Turn off the stove. Add 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves.
- Serve paneer bhurji with roti, paratha or bread.
- Sprinkle some lemon juice before serving.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
Video
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Thank you for the wonderful recipes. This was delicious. I added peas and curry powder. How can I add egg into this? Pls advice
Glad to know Afrina
Yes you can scramble the eggs and cook until almost done (soft cooked). Add the paneer. You will have to increase the spices
This was wonderful and very easy! Thank you.
Welcome!
Glad you liked it!
Hi Swasthi,
First of all you are awesome & the best 🙂 really grateful for all your recipes
One quick question: you said add tomato & onion in panner bhurji.. can you tell me the size of the same i.e. small, medium or large.
Hi Sunny,
Thank you!
You can use 1 medium onion and 1 small tomato
Tried it and it was really good. Thank you:)
Hi Preeti
You are welcome. Thank you
Dear swasthi
How are you? Please share how do you make paneer rolls with bhurji. I looked for a recipe on the blog but did not find. I make the paneer bhurji the same way you showed here. Do you use any chutney? Will the rolls keep fresh till noon? Appreciate if you could help.
Hi Vinutha,
I am good. Thanks for asking. Hope the same from you too. Yes I haven’t shared a recipe for paneer rolls. The way I do for the kids is pretty simple. I don’t use onion & tomato. I just fry the cumin and the ginger garlic. Next saute lot of fine chopped bell peppers, peas, corn, broccoli, & grated carrots until tender. Sprinkle salt, chilli, kasuri methi and garam masala. Then I add the crumbled paneer and mix. Turn off and cool down. Squeeze lemon juice and use it. I don’t use any sauce or chutney as they make the rolls soft. The key here is to use soft paneer so I use homemade paneer. Hope this helps. Thanks for following the blog.
🙂
How much vegetables can I add to this paneer bhurji? I like to add carrots peas corn capsicum
Hi Sush,
You can add about 1 cup mixed veggies.
Nice
Dear swasthi
What an amazing recipe! I made paneer with goat milk. It came out so good and richer in taste than the cows milk paneer. I made paneer bhurji with some peas and baby spinach. I wrapped it in tortillas. Simply awesome and healthy. Is on my list of healthy foods. Thank you! Your recipes are truly amazing with a balance of spice and flavours.
Welcome Lesle,
Sorry forgot to reply you. Thank you so much for trying the recipe. Glad you liked it,
🙂
going to add spinach also. on keto right now, will add bell pepper, fresh home made bhurji, tomatoes, keto bread 🙂 Happy feasting.
Wow! Nice meal
🙂
Thanks. I made planner Burji. It has come well.
Welcome. thanks for the comment
Dear swasthi
Thank you so much for this. I always use to make bhurji with frozen ready paneer but that never gave the real authentic taste of paneer bhurji. Love it this way it turned out awesome!! Great ideas ?
Yummy!! my kids loved it. Thanks for sharing how to make paneer easily.
Welcome Shrimathi
Thank you so much
It’s too yummy
Thank you so much. Happy to know your children liked it.
It’s too yummy.my children liked it very much
I guess kasuri methi did a difference. It was very delicious.
Hi Saba
Thanks for trying
Just amazing.. thanks for sharing this
welcome Charu
Your Paneer Bhurji recipe turned out amazing. Glad to visit your site and try it out. Me and my husband loved it! Totally like outside food infact better, healthy and easy to make. Had avoided ginger and yet it turned out amazing.
Thank you
So glad to know you liked it.
Amazing compliment I got from my family today only coz of ur recipe.
My family members got impressed they told me, that they feel like they are having their dinner at some dhabha.
Thanks swasthi for ur wonderful & tasty recipe. Earlier I used to prepare paneer bhurji but it was very masaledar, by adding pavbhaji masala pwd – dhana jeera pwd etc.
Even I liked the mild flavor of this bhurji. By adding kasuri methi enhances the taste of this bhurji.
I served this with plain paratha.
Hi Shalini
Glad to know you made it good and impressed your family. thanks aton for all the comments and feedback. Have a great week ahead
nice
i will try
Thank you
Delicious combo dear…<br />Have a lovely weekend 🙂
healthy and easy recipe swasthi
i should try the burji style with paneer.. I remember my mom making egg burji with palak
Looks Delicious..
a delicious and healthy combo..