Ghee Rice

Ghee Rice is a flavourful, appetizing meal made by cooking rice with ghee, aromatic spices, onion, green chillies and finally garnished with fried onion, cashews and raisins. Ghee Rice is an easy to make one pot meal and is relished as a wholesome meal or with a gravy or kurma.  Ghee Rice Recipe is explained in this post with step by step pictures and video.

Ghee Rice is a good choice to make it on holidays as a surprise meal which the family will ask for a repeat also it is quick and easy so win win. This recipe is a must try at home when you wish a special meal but running out of veggies or time.

About Ghee Rice

Ghee Rice is popularly called as Neichoru in Kerala where raw rice or seeraga samba rice is used. In tamil nadu it is called Ghee Rice or Nei Sadam.

Ghee Rice is a tasty blend of rice, ghee, spices, garnished with nuts & fried onions. This is a perfect rice menu when you wish a comforting mild meal without any masalas. This rice makes a rich meal when nuts, raisins and fried onions are added. Ghee Rice can also be made without spices & nuts, but adding them gives a special touch & makes an ordinary meal a special meal.

This makes a nice ideal meal for any day lunch or lunch box. Ghee Rice is a treat for both cook and the diner as the method makes easy for cook and the taste makes it special for the diner. Ghee Rice is popular at Kerala and is relished as is or serve as base for the Kerala Biryani or Neichoru.

Ghee Rice vs Biryani vs Pulao

Ghee Rice is very mild and uses only a handful of ingredients without tomatoes, spice powders etc. Biryani is completely loaded with aromatic spices, masalas, spice powders, tomatoes etc. And finally pulao is inbetween biryani and ghee rice I would say. But all the 3 are one pot meals though the ingredients and method vary.

Ghee Rice – when can we make?

Ghee Rice makes a special meal with the richness of ghee, spices and nuts and hence good for making on special occasions. Additionally it can be made on

• Week day busy routines for lunch
• When body demands masala & fry free comforting meal
• Add on meal during buffet or grand lunch
• Lunch Box

Ghee Rice Ingredients

• Rice : Basmati rice is the perfect pick for this Rice although you can make it with any type of rice – seraga samba rice, kerala matta rice, red rice or raw rice. Rinse 2-3 times to remove starch from the plain rice.
• Ghee & Spices : Fresh homemade ghee is ideal for flavourful aromatic rice, however you can use store bought ghee as well. I have used ginger garlic paste, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, mace for this. Additionally you may use black cardamom, fennel, ginger powder etc. Onion and green chillies adds flavour and spice to the rice.
• Cashews & Raisins – Ghee fried cashews and raisins are added finally and mixed. Additionally fried onions are also added for a slight caramelised taste.

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📖 Recipe Card

Ghee Rice Recipe Step by Step

1.Soak 1 cup basmati rice in water for 30 mins, set aside. After 30 mins rinse it well atleast twice then drain water and set aside.

2.To a pan add 1 tablespoon ghee add around 15 whole cashews. Fry until golden brown, remove and set aside.

3.Add 15 raisins fry until golden brown remove and set aside.

3.Cashews and raisins are fried and ready, set aside.

4.Add 1/3 cup sliced onion.

5.Fry until nicely browned. Set it aside.

6.Heat 3 tablespoon ghee.

7.Add 1 small bayleaf, one 1 inch cinnamon, 2 cloves, 2 cardamom, 1 staranise, a small piece mace.

8.Add 1 heaped teaspoon ginger garlic paste.

9.Saute for a minute.

10.Add 2 green chillies, a medium sized onion sliced along with required salt.

11.Saute until onions turn golden.

12.Add soaked, drained rice.

13.Give a quick saute.

14.Add 1.75 to 2 cups of water. I added 1.75 cups of water. Check and adjust salt at this stage. When you taste the water it should salty only then for rice salt level would be perfect.

15.Close with lid, put on whistle and pressure cook for 2 whistles in medium high flame. Switch off and let pressure release by itself.

16.Add fried cashews, raisins, fried onions and garnish with coriander leaves.

17.Gently fluff the rice. Mix it gently without breaking the rice.

Ghee rice is ready!

Expert Tips

• Soak the rice in water for minimum 30 minutes, rinse it well and strain and set aside. Rinse well until not so starchy.
• Soaking avoids sticking and breaking of rice while cooking. Soaking and cooking gives soft and fluffy rice.
• I usually use 1 rice :1.75 water ratio but 1:2 also works great but soaking is must.
• Don’t skip nuts and fried onion and add it only at the last stage after rice is cooked.

Serving & Storage Suggestions

Serve Ghee Rice with gravy or kurma ! On busy days, it can be relished wholesome as well. You can also serve it with onion raita.

Enjoy this rice on the same day of making, else refrigerate and heat it in stovetop or microwave before use next day. Keeps well for 1 day in room temperature and 2 days in fridge.

Variations

Try the below variations of Ghee Rice to make it taste different each time.

• You can add 1/4 cup coconut milk while cooking rice to make it like Coconut Milk Biryani. If adding coconut milk then reduce water.
• You can add paneer after shallow frying it for a Paneer Rice
• You can add shallow fried mushrooms, sweet corn, bell pepper or any other veggie of your choice.

FAQS

1.What is Ghee Rice?

Ghee Rice is a flavourful, appetizing meal made by cooking rice with ghee & spices and garnished with fried onions & nuts.

2.Can we use boiled rice or brown rice or raw rice for this recipe?

Basmati rice or Seeraga samba rice is the perfect pick although you can make it with any type of rice – boiled rice, basmati rice, kerala matta rice, red rice and raw rice.When cooking with raw rice, see that it does not over-cook and become mushy.

3.Do I need to add nuts & fried onions?

Not necessary – However if it is a special occasion, it makes the meal rich.