10 Minute Best Dry Paneer Bhurji Recipe

10 Minute Cook Time

Homemade paneer bhurji is the vegetarian version of Egg Bhurji recipes (anda bhurji). Tofu Bhurji is the vegan version.

Bhurji means scrambled so it is similar to scrambled eggs, but scrambled paneer and Indian style! It is a popular North Indian dish.

Best part is it has a balance of protein from paneer with capsicum, tomatoes and good for you spices. 

It tastes great on toast for breakfast or as a sandwich for lunch. For dinner main dish or lunch you could also serve this with Indian breads such as roti, paratha or as a bhurji kathi roll. It can be also served as a side dish and I think it tastes great with some veggies. It is super versatile and great for when you are stuck on what to make.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Vegetarian
• Gluten-free
• A quick and satisfying dish
• Can be made vegan with crumbled tofu

Ingredient Notes

You just need a few common ingredients plus Indian spices for this dish.

• Paneer: Crumbled paneer is used.  You can easily make homemade paneer in an Instant Pot or use store bought paneer
• Fresh ingredients: Tomatoes, onion (I like red onions), garlic, ginger, and green chillies
• Spices: Cumin seeds, turmeric, salt, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, cumin coriander powder, and kasuri methi
• Neutral oil: this is used to temper spice at the beginning of the recipe
• Optional: Chop and top the bhurji with fresh coriander leaves.

Note you can use ginger garlic paste if you want extra flavor from ginger.

Variations

• Making it vegan: Simply substitute paneer for tofu and you have a tasty vegan dish! Use firm tofu as a substitute.
• Vegetables: Mix up the veggies! I like to use veggies that I need to use up in here. As long as they are chopped small, just about any works. Green bell peppers are frequently used. Green peas would taste great. Add spinach for palak paneer bhurji!
• Spices: Change up the usual ground Indian spices Adding in a spoon of pav bhaji masala is a great way to change up the taste.
• Cheese: Add in a sprinkle of melty cheese like cheddar cheese or pepper jack.
• Zing: Give it a small teaspoon of lemon juice for added tang.
• Layer it on bread: Use bread slices/bread rolls toasted with chutney for an on-the-go meal. Drizzle some hot sauce on top!
• For kids: Reduce the amount of red chili powder.
• Jain friendly: You can make the paneer bhurji without onion and garlic if you prefer
• Paneer bhurji gravy: there is an alternative version that adds a little heavy cream and water to make gravy. I think this is an alternative version.

How to Make Paneer Bhurji

Preparation

• Finely chop the tomatoes, onions, and green chilies for the best taste.
• Mash the paneer into crumbles.  I find using my hands is the best way to crumble the paneer into pieces.

Cooking

1.  Heat oil on medium heat and add cumin seeds
2. Add in onion, green chilies, garlic cloves, and tomatoes.
3.  Once tomatoes begin to soften, add in crumbled paneer and spices.
4. Mix and cook for a short time and you are ready to eat!

Important Tip:  Mise en place always makes cooking easier. This means just having everything chopped and measured out ahead of time. It makes the cooking process even quicker for already easy recipes.

Serving Suggestions

Paneer bhurji can be served with any Indian bread.  Most commonly served with roti.  You can use Bhakri to make bhakri bhurji with Cilantro Chutney.

Paneer bhurji leftovers can also be used to make a delicious Paneer Bhurji Sandwich or Toast

Another easy idea is to serve as a wrap or a roll.

FAQ

Can you freeze paneer bhurji?

Yes, you can freeze paneer bhurji. Just make sure to use a freezer safe container and give it time to defrost when you use it. You can reheat in the microwave or on stovetop.

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