This Ghee Rice (also known as Neychoru/Nei choru) is a Restaurant Style South Indian delicious one-pot rice recipe made using basmai rice, desi ghee, and whole spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves in an Instant Pot Pressure cooker or Stovetop. This rice is a great lunch/dinner and lunchbox recipe for adults and kids.
Ghee rice is a popular South Indian recipe and one of my quick and simple go-to rice dishes, alongside coconut milk pulao, peas pulao and jeera rice. This aromatic rice is mildly flavored, and very easy to prepare with just a handful of ingredients, making it a perfect option for a quick and delicious kids school lunch box. In Karnataka, this dish is served at most weddings, parties and in restaurants.
This rice dish is also popular in Kerala and known as Neychoru/Nei choru. Often in Malayali mess it is served with veg kurma or stew.
I like to pair ghee rice with paneer butter masala, dal tadka or rajma masala when i have guests at home.
Ingredients
You will require very few simple ingredients to make this easy ghee rice recipe.
- Ghee: Ghee is the star ingredient in this recipe. Best flavors come from homemade ghee, so do not replace it with oil.
- Whole Spices: I used bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, mace, and star anise.
- Basmati rice: Use good quality long grain Basmati rice for the restaurant-style ghee rice. You can also use small-grain rice like sona masuri or seeraga samba rice, and adjust the water accordingly.
- Veggies: I used ginger, green chilies, and onions.
- Nuts: Cashew nuts and raisins.
- Water: I have used 1.5 cups of water for every cup of Basmati rice to make this ghee rice in Instant Pot. I did not soak the rice prior, if you do, then reduce the water by ¼ cup. Adjust water based on the type and quality of rice.
How to Make Ghee Rice in Instant Pot
Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat 2-3 tablespoons ghee, add 12-15 cashews, and fry till they are lightly golden. Then add 10-15 raisins and fry till they plump up. Then, remove them to a plate and set them aside. They will be used for garnishing.
Then, add the following whole spices:
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 cloves
- 2 cardamom
- 1 small mace, optional
- 1 star anise, optional
Saute for a few seconds or till aromatic.
Add 2 small onions (thinly sliced), 2-3 green chilies (slit lengthwise), and ½ inch of grated ginger, and saute until translucent - stir regularly.
Then add 1 cup of rinsed basmati rice, 1 ½ cups of water, and salt to taste. Give a quick stir.
Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
When the instant pot beeps, do a Quick Pressure Release (QR) before removing the lid.
Garnish with roasted cashew nuts, and raisins, and gently fluff up the ghee rice with a fork or ladle.
Instant pot restaurant-style ghee rice is ready to serve.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
Follow the same steps as Instant Pot. Close the lid of the cooker, Pressure cook for 1 whistle on medium heat, and let the pressure release naturally. All other steps remain the same.
Stovetop Pot Instructions
For preparing this dish in a stovetop pot. Follow the same steps, close the lid, and cook on low flame until all liquid is absorbed and the rice is fluffy.
What to Serve with Ghee Rice?
Restaurant-style ghee rice tastes excellent with any vegetable kurma, paneer butter masala. You can also pair it with onion tomato raita.
It can also be served as a side dish with lentil dishes like dal tadka, chana masala or rajma.
Tips & Variations
- Quality of basmati rice: The aroma and the texture of rice are purely based on the quality of basmati rice. Roast the rice for 2 minutes to get beautiful fluffy ghee rice.
- Coconut milk: You may replace 1 cup of water with 1 cup of thick coconut milk for added flavor to make coconut ghee rice.
- Veggies: Also, you can add some vegetables of your choice, like green peas, beans, and carrots, to make vegetable-loaded ghee rice if you make them, especially for the kid's lunch box.
- Nuts: Along with roasted cashews and raisins, you can add more dry fruits like almonds, pistachios, etc.
Storage Suggestions
- Store: Leftover ghee rice will keep well in the fridge for up to 1-2 days. Let it cool completely, and then store it in an airtight container.
- Freeze: Cool down the rice completely and store it in the freezer-safe airtight container for up to 1 month.
- Reheat: Sprinkle some water and reheat the ghee rice in the microwave or stovetop until it warms through.
More Instant Pot Indian Rice Recipes
Instant Pot Ghee Rice (Restaurant Style)
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoons ghee
- 12-15 cashews
- 10-15 raisins
- 2 small onion thinly sliced
- 2-3 green chilies slit lengthwise
- ½ inch ginger grated
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1.5 cups water
- salt to taste
Whole Spices
- 2 bay leaf
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 cloves
- 2 cardamom
- 1 small mace optional
- 1 star anise optional
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat ghee, add cashews and fry till they are light golden in color. Then add raisins and fry till they plump up. Then remove them to a plate and set them aside. They will be used for garnishing.
- Then add in the whole spices like bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, mace and star anise. Saute for a few secs or till aromatic.
- Add sliced onion, green chilies, and grated ginger, and saute until translucent-stir regularly.
- Then add rinsed basmati rice, water, and salt. Give a quick stir.
- Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.When the instant pot beeps, do a Quick Pressure Release (QR) before removing the lid.
- Garnish with roasted cashew nuts, and raisins and gently fluff up the ghee rice with a fork or laddle.
- Instant pot restaurant style ghee rice is ready to serve.
Indian Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker on medium heat, add cashews, and fry till they are light golden in color. Then add raisins and fry till they plump up. Then remove them to a plate and set them aside. They will be used for garnishing.
- Then add in the whole spices like bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, mace and star anise. Saute for a few seconds or till aromatic.
- Add sliced onion, green chilies, and grated ginger, and saute until translucent-stir regularly.
- Then add rinsed basmati rice, water, and salt. Give a quick stir.
- Close the lid of the cooker, Pressure cook for 1 whistle on medium heat and let the pressure release naturally.
- Garnish with roasted cashew nuts, and raisins and gently fluff up the ghee rice with a fork or laddle.
Video
Notes
- Quality of basmati rice: The aroma and the texture of rice are purely based on the quality of basmati rice. Roast the rice for 2 minutes to get beautiful fluffy ghee rice.
- Coconut milk: You may replace 1 cup of water with 1 cup of thick coconut milk for added flavor to make coconut ghee rice.
- Veggies: Also, you can add some vegetables of your choice, like green peas, beans, and carrots, to make vegetable-loaded ghee rice if you make them, especially for the kid's lunch box.
- Nuts: Along with roasted cashews and raisins, you can add more dry fruits like almonds, pistachios, etc.
Nutrition
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Kuku
Made this today and it came out so well. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Ps. I added a pinch of fennel powder and loved the addition.
Bhavana Patil
Hi Kuku, Thank you for sharing your feedback, Glad you liked it..
Samtha
Yummy and very easy
bhavana
Thank you Samtha 🙂 I am glad you loved the recipe 🙂
Pearly
This is great recipe. Made it for potluck & everyone loved it.
bhavana
Thanks for letting me know everyone liked it 🙂