Ghee Rice

Ghee rice or nei choru is a speciality from the malabar region of Kerala. It's generally served with a spicy kurma, mainly non veg. I made this yesterday and served with vegetable and tomato kurma. The name is self explanatory that it uses ghee, but i did some swap with vegetable oil instead of all ghee.
I used my time trusted pressure cooker to make this rice, but is usually made on stove top. I had some friends over and we all thoroughly enjoyed this rice dish.

 

Get Ready:

 

• 3 cups basmati rice
• 4 1/4 cup water
• 1 big red onion thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves
• 6 tsp ghee
• 3 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 4 cloves
• 3 cardamom pods
• 1 or 1 & 1/2  inch cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 star anise
• A pinch of sugar

 

 

 

 

For garnish
1/3 cup cashews
1/3 cup golden raisins

 

 

Go:

 

• Wash and soak the rice for 20 mins. after 20 mins drain the water and set aside
• In a deep pan, add 3 tsp of ghee and 1 tsp of oil and fry the cashews till golden and set aside.
• Now fry the raisins till plump and set aside
• Add about 1/2 cup of the thinly sliced onions and fry till translucent.

( add some oil if needed)

• Now add a pinch of sugar to caramalize them and fry till brown. set aside this is for the garnish.
• In a pressure cooker or heavy bottomed pan, add the remaining ghee and oil.
• Once oil is hot add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, staranise and let it splutter.
• Add to the remaining sliced onion and fry till pink.
• Add the garlic and saute for a few mins till nice and fragrant.
• add the rice and fry till they are pink and opaque.
• Add water, salt to taste, mix well.
• Cover the pressure cooker and let it cook for 2 whistles and turn the heat off. take it off the stove.
• if you are cooking on a stove top, let the rice boil for 5 mins, simmer and cover and cook till the grains are done. fluff them in between.
• Once the pressure is released, transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the cashes, raisins and caramalized onions.

I served with some cucumber slices  ( may be went a bit over the top) and kuruma.

Had a wonderful evening with friends and food !