Last updated on November 7th, 2018
Ghee rice recipe with step by step photos. Fragrant one pot ghee rice recipe to serve with kuruma, curry. Ghee rice or nei choru is a popular rice dish from south India. It is very popular especially in Tamil nadu and kerala. Ghee rice is always served in weddings too. Ghee rice with chicken curry or any other non vegetarian gravy is very popular. Vegetarians serve ghee rice with spicy veg kuruma. This rice recipe is a popular one course lunch in south indian restaurants just like lemon rice, tomato rice, brinji rice, curd rice, sambar rice.
Ghee rice is a south Indian variety rice and has many variations in making. You can use basmati rice or seeraga samba rice to make ghee rice or nei choru. In few recipes curry leaves, green chilies are added.I add just one green chili and some pepper corns for spice.
I like to keep the flavor of ghee rice mild as it is served with spicy gravy. Ghee rice is a favorite at our home and I make it on weekends with some special kuruma or gravy. You can also serve this with spicy dhaba dal
To make ghee rice recipe or nei choru use fine quality aged rice. Basmati rice or seeraga samba rice suits best to make nei choru. The amout of spices used in this recipe is purely a perosnal choice. If you make the rice spicy then the side dish can be mild. For restaurant style mild ghee rice, kuruma can be spicy and flavorful.
This easy rice recipe for kids and toddlers is one healthy and wholesome option. For perfect ghee rice use best desi ghee. It is ideal to use homemade ghee for this recipe. I have made the whole recipe in a pressure cooker. You can make ghee rice in pan too.
Serve ghee rice with any dal, curry or gravy of your choice. This nei choru also goes well with simple onion raita and salad.
If you are looking for more rice recipes do check dum biryani, veg pulao, veg fried rice, coconut milk pulao recipes.
How to make ghee rice recipe
Pick and rinse the raw rice thoroughly. Soak in plenty of water for 30 minutes. Drain and spread on a plate and set aside.
Heat a pressure cooker base with 3 tablespoons ghee. Once the ghee melts add cashews and fry till golden. remove the fried cashews to a plate.
Add raisins and fry them too. Remove to a plate.
Now to the same add the whole spices and saute till fragrant.
Add the sliced onions and saute till they turn soft.
Add the drained rice and mix well. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add 3 cups water and required salt. Bring to a boil.
Close the pressure cooker and cook until 1 whistle. Now simmer the cooker for 5-7 minutes.
Switch off and let the pressure settle down.
Ghee rice recipe card below:
- 1 cup basmati or seeraga sambar rice
- 3-4 tablespoons ghee/ clarified butter
- 20 cashews
- 1 tablespoon raisin or kismis
- water for cooking rice
- Salt
- Whole spices for ghee rice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon shahijeera
- 10-12 black peppercorns
- 2 cardamoms
- 2 cloves
- A small cinnamon stick
- Pick and rinse the raw rice thoroughly. Soak in plenty of water for 30 minutes. Drain and spread on a plate and set aside.
- Heat a pressure cooker base with 3 tablespoons ghee. Once the ghee melts add cashews and fry till golden. remove the fried cashews to a plate.
- Add raisins and fry them too. Remove to a plate.
- Now to the same add the whole spices and saute till fragrant.
- Add the sliced onions and saute till they turn soft.
- Add the drained rice and mix well. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
- Add 3 cups water and required salt. Bring to a boil.
- Close the pressure cooker and cook until 1 whistle. Now simmer the cooker for 5-7 minutes.
- Switch off and let the pressure settle down.
We made ghee rice following your recipe yesterday and loved it. I added few green chilies along with peppercorns.
Can I use regular raw rice to makeghee rice. please clarify.
Does making ghee rice pressure cooker turns out to be like ones served in weddings?
HI Harini, thanks so much for this awesome recipe. I tried ghee rice yesterday and we enjoyed it with chicken gravy. all your recipes are awesome
Hi Shruthi. Usually n weddings ghee rice is cooked in big open flame and while making at home here will be a slight flavor difference. I suggest you try this recipe and see if it matches your preference.