Ghee rice, cooked with clarified butter or ghee and aromatic spices, a platter of this tempting rice can elevate your simple menus into an elaborate meal.

Rice being a staple in most Asian countries is cooked every day, and knowing a few ways to cook rice brings variety to the dish.

Here’s where this easy-to-cook Indian rice recipe comes into play.

Using my ghee rice recipe, a few cups of basmati or regular quality rice grains, you can cook a simple rice dish that is fragrant and full of flavour.

Don’t forget to check out the recommended side dishes below, this would give you an opportunity to create your own menu for any event.

When to serve with ghee rice.

• These are a few special occasions you can serve the ghee rice.
  • You can make it for any type of family gathering or party. serving rice is always an economical way to feed a large crowd.
  • As a Friday special to serve your loved ones when they come after their prayers.
  • Special festive occasions.
• Vegetarian curries to pair with the aromatic ghee rice.
  • Sri Lankan Potato curry(ala kiri hodi). or a potato korma(aloo kurma).
  • Sri Lankan spicy Dry Potato curry(ala theldala)
  • spicy green beans stir fry(bonchi thel dala).
  • Sri Lankan Malay pickle(achcharu).
  • Mango curry(my grandmother’s recipe)
  • Pineapple chutney(Sri Lankan).
  • Eggplant sweet and sour curry(Sri Lankan brinjal pahi).
  • Sri Lankan kaliya curry(cooked ash plantain-brinjal curry).
  • Easy eggplant stir fry
• Poultry, seafood, and meat curries to pair with this ghee rice recipe.
• MUGHLAI CHICKEN(North Indian chicken korma curry).
• chicken Chettinad curry with gravy.
• Slow-cooked Indian beef and potato curry(aloo gosht)
• beef korma curry(slow-cooked Indian beef curry).
• devilled prawns(Sri Lankan, shrimp devil).
• pepper prawns(shrimp) curry(Sri Lankan)
• Mutton curry(goat curry)

Tips to make the best fragrant ghee rice.

• Ghee, choose the best quality ghee available to you. yes, it’s expensive but using ghee instead of oil is what makes this rice a special dish.

• Use a brand of rice you are familiar with, you can use both basmati and keeri samba to make the ghee rice. there are many varieties of basmati rice as well as brands. if you’ve been using a particular brand of basmati then use the same to cook this ghee rice.

• Make sure the water to rice ratio is correct. keep in mind that Basmati rice needs less water than regular samba rice.

•  You can use the stovetop or the rice cooker to cook the ghee rice.
• Using the number of garnishes mentioned here is up to you.
• You can also leave out the Cashews and raisins as garnish if that is your preference.

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Frequently asked questions: ghee rice recipe.

Basmati or regular rice.

Types of rice you can use to make the Indian ghee rice.

You can actually use both Basmati and white rice to make the Indian rice recipe.

The most essential ingredient to making the perfect ghee rice is using the best ghee you can find. 

Once you have the ghee and the whole spices, it’s a matter of following the step-by-step process of cooking the ghee rice.

 

Can I turn leftover rice into ghee rice?

Yes, you can. I’ve done it a couple of times.
Simply add the tempered spices and ghee to the rice and combine well.
This turns your leftover rice into a very aromatic bowl of rice.

What are the aromatic spices you use here for the simple rice pilau?

I’m using cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, star anise, strands of mace and bay leaf.

What is ghee?

Ghee is clarified butter. 

Can I use butter instead of ghee for the recipe?

Yes, but I would recommend using ghee always.
You need ghee to give the rice its unique taste. only use butter when you are unable to find ghee.

Where can I find ghee?

Most Asian stores, the Asian/Indian aisle section or the oil aisle should be the first places to look for ghee.

What are the garnishes I can use for the simple Indian ghee rice pilaf?

I love using a good amount of ghee fried, onions, raisins and cashews on my rice pilau. 

I am giving you the option of using basmati or regular rice to make the rice pilau.

Only the amount of water will change as per your choice of rice.

The quantity of water is mentioned below for both types of rice.
There will be no change in the other ingredients used.

Utensils and appliances needed.

• Bowl to wash the rice.
• A large pot to cook the rice.
• A small frying pan to fry the onions and spices.
• 2 smaller bowls covered in paper towels.
• Slotted spoon.

More rice recipes

Sri Lankan Yellow Rice(turmeric rice)

how to cook rice on the stove.

egg biryani (one pot rice dish/stove-top)

chicken mandi rice

Chicken kabsa(Saudi chicken and rice recipe)

RECIPE DIFFICULTY-LITTLE CARE IS NEEDED

How to cook Fragrant ghee rice.

The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

Ingredients to cook ghee rice.

2 cups of basmati rice or 2 cups of regular keeri samba rice(see notes on basmati or regular rice)

3 cups of water if basmati rice 
3 and 1/4 cups of water for regular samba rice

Salt to season
4 tablespoons of ghee(clarified butter)
1/2 cup to 1 cup Cashew nuts(optional garnish)
1/2 cup of raisins
2 large Onions sliced fine
2-inch piece Cinnamon
4 cloves
5 cardamoms slightly bruised
1-star anise
1 bay leaf 
2 thin strips of mace

Method

Gather all ingredients needed.

Keeri samba.
Rinse the rice a few times, drain and set aside.

Basmati rice.

If using Basmati, rinse the rice then soak the long grains in water for 15 minutes or as per instruction on the package.

Drain and set aside once the soaking is done.

Shallow frying the onions and garnishes.

Slice the onions and set them aside.

Place a frying pan over low-medium heat and add ghee to it, let the ghee melt for a few seconds.

Separately, shallow-fry the cashews(until golden) and raisins(until they become plump) for a few minutes.
Transfer to a paper towel-covered bowl.

Add the sliced onions with a few more ghee spoons if required and fry them till they are crispy and turn golden brown.

Transfer to a separate bowl covered in paper towels.

Cooking the ghee rice.

Place the large pan over medium heat and transfer any leftover ghee from the frying process of the garnishes and onions to this pan.

Add the whole spices and gently cook them over low heat until they release their aroma, this should take no more than 2-3 minutes. make sure not to burn them.

Add two tablespoons of fried onions to the whole spices, followed by the washed rice/basmati.

Combine rice over low heat with all the ingredients in the pan for 3-5 minutes. 

Add water(the amount of water for regular rice and basmati rice given on the ingredient list)or use the amount of water mentioned in the packaging

Season with salt, cover with a lid and use medium heat to cook the rice until the water is absorbed.

Check the rice once the water is absorbed.

If the rice is still hard(usually in the middle)and needs to cook for a few minutes, add 2-3 tablespoons of water and continue to cook till water evaporates. 

Once the rice is cooked, remove the pan from the fire(or the rice will continue to cook)and fluff the rice with a fork.

Allow the rice to rest for 5 minutes without covering it.

Transfer rice to the serving dish and garnish with the leftover Onions and raisins and cashews.

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