Restaurant Style Ghee Rice recipe is a South Indian style simple and delicious one-pot rice made using desi ghee (clarified butter) and whole spices like cinnamon, cardamom, 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 very popular South Indian recipe. This aromatic rice is mildly flavored, and you can prepare it with just a few handful of ingredients. In Karnataka, this dish is served during breakfast and at lunchtime in Restaurants. Also served at most weddings and other parties.
Ingredients
- Ghee (clarified butter): Ghee is the star ingredient in this recipe. Best flavors come from ghee so do not replace it with oil.
- Whole Spices: bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.
- Basmati rice: Use good quality long grain Basmati rice for the restaurant-style. You can also use small grain rice, and adjust the water accordingly.
- Ginger: I have grated the ginger and used it in the recipe.
- Green chilies: are added for the heat. Increase or decrease the quantity according to your spice level.
- Onions: Use thinly sliced 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.
- Salt: as per taste
How to make Ghee Rice in Instant Pot
Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add ghee and once it's hot, add Bay leaf, Cinnamon sticks, Cardamom, Cloves. Fry for 30 secs(till aromatic).
Then add chopped raisins, cashew nuts, green chilies, grated ginger, and saute for another 30 secs.
Add sliced onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until translucent -stir regularly. Then add salt to speed up the process of cooking.
Then add Basmati Rice, water, and give a stir. Adjust salt at this stage.
Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes. Once the pot beeps, Wait for natural pressure release (NPR).
Remove lid away from you, garnish with cashew nuts, raisins. Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Ghee Rice is ready.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker on medium heat and once its hot add Bay leaf, Cinnamon sticks, Cardamom, Cloves. Saute for 30 seconds(till aromatic)
- Then add chopped raisins, cashew nuts, green chillies, grated ginger and saute for another 30 secs.
- Add sliced onions and add salt to speed up the process of cooking.
- Saute for 2-3 minutes until onions turn translucent.
- Add Basmati Rice, water and stir well.
- Close the lid of the cooker, Pressure cook it for 2 whistles on medium heat.
- Fluff the rice witha fork when cooled. Ghee Rice is ready.
What to serve with Ghee Rice?
Restaurant Style Ghee Rice tastes excellent with any kurma. Yogurt or raita also goes well with this.
Tips & Variations
- The aroma and the texture of rice is purely based on the quality of basmati rice. Roast the rice for 2 minutes to get beautiful fluffy ghee rice.
- You may replace 1 cup water with 1 cup thick coconut milk for nice flavor.
- Also you can add some vegetables of your choice like green peas and carrot if you are making for kids lunch box.
FAQs
Ghee Rice is made using basmati rice. This rice is thinner and longer than traditional rice. I prefer Daawat Traditional Basmati Rice or Tilda Legendary Rice, Pure Original Basmati brands. But you can use short grain sona masuri rice as well.
More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
Instant Pot Ghee Rice (Restaurant Style)
Ingredients
Measuring cup used 1 cup = 240 ml
- 2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 bay leaf
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 2-3 cardamom
- 2-3 cloves
- ½ inch ginger minced
- 2-3 green chilies slit lengthwise
- 10-15 raisins
- few cashew nuts
- 2 medium onions thinly sliced
- 1.5 cups water
- salt to taste
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Press Saute mode on Instant Pot. Add ghee and once it's hot add Bay leaf, Cinnamon sticks, Cardamom, Cloves. Fry for 30 secs(till aromatic).
- Then add chopped raisins, cashew nuts, green chillies, grated ginger and saute for another 30 secs.
- Add sliced onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until translucent - stir regularly. Add salt to speed up the process of cooking
- Add Basmati Rice, water and give a stir. Adjust salt at this stage.
- Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- Once the pot beeps, Wait for natural pressure release (NPR).
- Remove lid away from you, garnish with cashew nuts, raisin. Ghee Rice is ready.
Indian Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker on medium heat and once its hot add Bay leaf, Cinnamon sticks, Cardamom, Cloves. Saute for 30 seconds(till aromatic)
- Then add chopped raisins, cashew nuts, green chillies, grated ginger and saute for another 30 secs.
- Add sliced onions and add salt to speed up the process of Cooking.
- Saute for 2-3 minutes until onions turn translucent.
- Add Basmati Rice, water and stir well.
- Close the lid of the cooker, Pressure cook it for 2 whistles on medium heat
- When it is cooled, fluff the rice. Ghee Rice is ready
Notes
- Ghee rice tastes better when basmati Rice(Long grain rice) is added.
- I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT
Nutrition
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Pearly says
This is great recipe. Made it for potluck & everyone loved it.
bhavana says
Thanks for letting me know everyone liked it 🙂
Samtha says
Yummy and very easy
bhavana says
Thank you Samtha 🙂 I am glad you loved the recipe 🙂