Tofu Paneer Pulao

Hello! Hello! It has been a while since I posted a new recipe. I have to tell you, starting a new job is hard. Its something I love to do .. and I really wanted (and needed) the change .. but the change has totally thrown me for a loop. I'm driving the same distance and time (about 40 miles one way) as my old job but I go in the direction of the city now and encounter a lot of traffic. By the time I get home .. I'm exhausted. For the last 3 months, I've relied on tried and true RRC and HH recipes. Various kinds of stir fries, and Red Beans and Rice and Dal and easy stuff like that. I'm sure you've seen my posts on my FB page. Last night I tried a new recipe and fired up my laptop, which by the way had been sitting on my desk for more than 2 months. I had so many updates to install, I never got around to posting my recipe before it was time for bed. 

This recipe came together really easy. It was born out of the desire to eat rice (Indians are rice eaters), but to eat a simple rice dish. Tofu is an excellent substitute for paneer (fresh cottage cheese) which is used in a lot of Indian dishes, as a source of protein. I used Mori-Nu Extra-Firm Silken tofu in this recipe because that is what I had on hand. Any firm or extra-firm tofu should work just as well. I did not press or drain the tofu. I used white rice in this recipe, but brown should work as well, so long as the cook time is adjusted accordingly. I used this dish as my entree. You can also serve this as a side dish. Enjoy!! 

Prep Time: 20 min

Ingredients (Serves 4):

1. 1 cup Basmati Rice
2. 2 cups Water
3. 1 x12oz Pack of Extra-Firm Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, diced
4. 1 tbsp Dried Onion Flakes (or use 1/2 cup fresh finely diced onions)
5. 2 tsp Garlic Powder
6. 2 tsp Deggi Chilli Powder
7. 2 tbsp Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
8. 4-6 Green Onions (green portions only), diced finely.
9. Salt to taste.

Directions:

Wash rice well in a lot of water (soak and drain multiple times to remove all dust). Add everything to a dutch oven (in my opinion, pilafs always come out better in heavy lidded pots; I used my Le Creuset but any lidded stock pot should really work). Bring to a boil, reduce  heat, cover until only a crack remains on the side and cook on Medium-low until rice is tender. Cover completely. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. These last 10 minutes are crucial for rice pilafs as this allows the rice to absorb any excess water and fluff up. Serve warm with crispy baked papadums, or even baked tortilla chips. Sprinkle some hot sauce and you're talking my talk :) !!! Enjoy!! 

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving): Calories 189 (Fat Calories 5)
Total Fat 0.6 g; Carbohydrates 41.4 g; Fiber 1.7 g; Sugars 1.8 g; Protein 4.6 g


If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my Recipe Index for more Whole-Food, Plant-Based, No-Added-Oil recipes. You can also like Rugrat Chow! on Facebook. Thanks!