Ghee Rice Recipe

Fragrant, fluffy Indian Ghee Rice made with basmati rice, pure ghee, whole spices, cashews and fried onions. Serves 3-4 people.

Ingredients

2 cups basmati rice, 3 tbsp pure ghee, 1 large onion, thinly sliced, 10-12 cashews, 1 tbsp raisins optional, 1 bay leaf, 1-inch cinnamon stick, 3-4 cloves, 3-4 green cardamoms, 1 star anise optional 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 green chillies, slit, 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 3% cups hot water, Salt to taste 2 tbsp fresh coriander, 1 tbsp fresh mint – optional

Method

Wash and soak the rice
Wash the basmati rice 2-3 times until the water is relatively clear. Soak for 20-30 minutes, then drain.

Fry the onions
Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a heavy-bottomed pot. Add the sliced onions and fry until golden brown and crisp. Remove and keep aside.

Roast the cashews
In the same pot, add cashews and raisins. Fry until the cashews are golden. Remove and keep aside.

Prepare the ghee masala
Add the remaining ghee. Add cumin, bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and star anise. Sauté for 20-30 seconds until fragrant.
Add green chillies and ginger-garlic paste. Cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the rice
Add the drained basmati rice and gently sauté for 1-2 minutes. This helps coat the rice with ghee and keeps the grains separate.

Cook
Add 3½ cups hot water and salt. Bring to a boil.
Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for approximately 12-15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Turn off the heat and let it rest, covered, for 10 minutes.

Finish with ghee
Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Top with the fried onions, cashews, raisins, coriander and 1 extra teaspoon of pure ghee.

Restaurant-Style Secret
For an especially aromatic Ghee Rice, don’t overcook the basmati. The ideal result is long, separate grains with a buttery ghee aroma.
For a richer version, you can also add 2-3 tbsp coconut milk along with the cooking water.

Best Served With
Vegetable kurma
Paneer butter masala.
Chicken curry
Mutton curry
Dal tadka
Raita
Pickle and papad

Perfect combination: Ghee Rice + Chicken/Mutton Curry + Onion Raita.