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Ghee rice recipe (Stovetop & Instant pot)

By swasthi , on May 8, 2020, 84 Comments, Jump to Recipe

Ghee rice recipe is one of the most simplest one pot aromatic rice dishes that can be prepared in a jiffy. It is best served with a gravy side dish like kurma, Chicken gravy or Egg curry. Ghee rice is quite a popular South Indian food that is mostly prepared for a special meal. It is often served in restaurants with a kurma curry or chicken curry or any egg or non-veg gravy.

ghee rice

Ghee rice is mildly flavored with desi ghee, basic spices like cardamom, bay leaf, cinnamon and cloves. The flavor of the fresh desi ghee is unique and totally elevates the flavor of the dish. Do not try this recipe with oil.

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Ghee rice is made all over South India with slight variations. It is found on restaurant menus, wedding menus and even made in many homes for a weekend meal.

In this post, I am sharing 2 ghee rice recipes. In the first recipe, the rice is cooked in ghee with spices. Second recipe calls for seasoning the spices in ghee and adding the steamed rice like the fried rice.

I often follow the second recipe for kids meal, ideally for dinner. A simple veggie salad is always good with that and makes the meal complete.

Preparation for ghee rice recipe

1. Wash and soak rice for 20 minutes.

2. Add 1½ tablespoon ghee to a cooker or a pot. Next add 14 cashews and fry till lightly golden. Also add 14 raisins. When they turn plump, remove to a plate and keep them aside. We need them for garnishing.

frying nuts & raisins in ghee

3. Transfer 1 medium thinly sliced onion to the same pan, fry them evenly stirring often until golden or light brown. Remove them to the same plate and keep aside. We need them for garnishing as they add flavor to the rice.

frying onions for ghee rice

How to make ghee rice

4. To the same pan, add ½ tablespoon ghee. Add 1 bay leaf, 1 star anise, 4 cloves, 1 small cinnamon, 3 cardamoms and a strand of mace. Fry for a min. Then add 2 sliced green chilis and fry for a min.

frying spices for ghee rice

5. Next add drained rice.

frying basmati rice

6. Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring evenly and frying.

basmati rice with spices and ghee
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7. Add half teaspoon salt. Pour 1¾ cups water if cooking in a cooker. To cook in a pot, pour 2 cups water. Stir and taste test the water. It has to be slightly salty.

pouring water to make ghee rice

8. If cooking in a pot, bring the water to a boil and then regulate the flame to low. Cook covered until the rice is fully cooked. Turn off the heat when done and leave the pot covered for 10 to 15 mins. The heat in the pot will make the rice fluffy.

If making ghee rice in a pressure cooker, Cook for 1 whistle on a medium high flame.

pressure cooking ghee rice

9. When the pressure releases, fluff up the ghee rice with a fork.

fluffy ghee rice
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Garnish with raisins, cashews, fried onions and coriander leaves.

ghee rice recipe

Ghee rice recipe – Recipe 2

This is more like a fried rice, needs only pepper powder and no other spice is used. This makes a good lunch box dish for kids but without egg. I wonder if eggs keep good for so long in kids lunch box.

This can be made without egg or you can even use some of your favorite veggies like carrot, peas, capsicum and beans. I have grown up eating this more often during winters.

Pepper and curry leaves fried in ghee emits a great aroma & taste.

Most times I end up making this for my lunch. We don’t mind having it without any raita or gravy and just love to have it with grated carrot, sliced onions or cucumbers.

If you are a non-vegetarian then you can try this with a hot and spicy andhra chicken fry or a gravy like chicken chettinad or butter chicken.

Recipe 2

Ingredients

  • ½ cup basmathi rice
  • 1 boiled egg (pierce it with a fork randomly) (optional)
  • fistful of cashews and raisins
  • 2 tbsp ghee
  • 10 pepper corns (coarsely crushed)
  • 2 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 green chili slit
  • 1 to 2 garlic chopped
  • Salt to taste
frying cooked long grain rice with eggs

Method
1. Cook rice and cool it completely.
2. Heat a pan with ghee, fry cashews and raisins, set these aside to a plate
3. Add garlic, curry leaves, green chili and egg. fry till the leaves turn crisp
4. Next add coarsely crushed pepper powder and salt, saute
5. Add rice to the pan and mix well. fry for 2 minutes on high
6. Garnish with cashews and raisins just before serving.

ghee rice with eggs

Tips to make the best ghee rice

  1. Use good quality ghee that has a nice aroma. It is the good quality ghee that brings a unique aroma to the rice. If possible use desi cow’s ghee or at least puree ghee. Avoid using oil.
  2. Always rinse the rice well a few times before making ghee rice. This helps to get rid of the excess starch and prevents the rise from turning mushy.
  3. Soaking rice for at least 30 mins before cooking helps the rice to expand well & cook up to fluffy grains.
  4. Different regions use different kinds of rice to make ghee rice. I make it using aged basmati rice. You can use any other rice of your choice.
  5. Frying rice in ghee for 3 to 5 mins is another key step to make perfect ghee rice.

You can serve this ghee rice
veg kurma
potato kurma
soya chunks kurma
egg kurma
chicken kurma

More one pot rice recipes
Veg pulao
Tomato Rice
Lemon Rice

Recipe 1

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ghee rice recipe

Ghee rice recipe | How to make ghee rice

Ghee rice is a one pot rice dish made with ghee, rice, spices & nuts. It is one of the most basic flavored rice recipe served with kurma or any curry. Instructions for stovetop & Instant pot.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings2
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

  • 1 cups basmati rice
  • 2 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter
  • 1 medium onion thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1¾ cups water for Indian cooker (1¼ cup Instant pot, 2 cups for normal pot)
  • 1 green chilies (slit or chopped)
  • ½ teaspoon Salt (adjust to taste)
  • 14 cashewnuts or kaju
  • 14 raisins

Whole spices

  • 2 inch cinnamon or dalchini
  • 4 cloves or laung
  • 3 to 4 green cardamoms or elaichi
  • 1 strand mace or javitri
  • 1 star anise or chakri phool
  • 1 bay leaf or tej patta
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Instructions

Preparation

  • Wash 1 cup rice until the water runs clear.
  • Soak it for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and set aside. 
  • While the rice soaks, slice 1 medium onion thinly & slit 1 green chilies.
  • Heat a pressure cooker or a pot with 2 tablespoons of ghee.
  • Fry 14 cashews till lightly golden, add 14 raisins and stir up.
  • When they turn plump set them aside in a plate.
  • To the same pan, add onions. You can also skip onions. 
  • Fry them till golden to make the fried onions / barista.
  • These onions are used for garnishing and they add flavor to the rice.

How to make ghee rice

  • Add all the whole spices to the pan & fry for a min until aromatic.
  • Add green chilies, drained rice & fry on a medium flame for about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir to prevent burning .
  • Pour 1¾ cups water and salt as needed.
  • You may need to add more or less water depending on the rice.
  • Taste the water and check the salt. If needed add more.
  • If making in a pressure cooker allow the cooker to whistle once on a medium flame. If making in pot, cover and cook on a very low flame until the rice is done.
  • When the pressure releases, gently fluff up the rice with a fork. 
  • Transfer ghee rice to a serving bowl or plate. Garnish with raisins, cashews, fried onions and coriander leaves.
  • Serve ghee rice with any gravy like kurma, curry or even with egg roast. You can also eat it plain.

Instant pot ghee rice

  • Press the SAUTE button & add ghee to the inner steel pot of the Instant pot.
  • When the ghee melts, add the cashews & saute until they turn light golden.
  • Then add in the raisins and stir until they plum up. Remove the cashews and raisins to a small plate.
  • Stir in the onion slices to the ghee and spread them in a single layer.
  • Next stir them every now and then until they turn golden to light brown & aromatic. If the pot is too hot, you can switch the saute to low by pressing (saute button again). Drain the ghee well and remove to the same plate.
  • Now add in all the whole spices, followed by the green chilli and drained rice.
  • Saute for 30 to 60 seconds & press CANCEL button.
  • Pour water and add salt. Deglaze by scrubbing the bottom of the steel pot with a spatula. Taste the water and add more salt if needed.
  • Secure the instant pot with the lid. Position the steam release handle/ vent to sealing.
  • Press the PRESSURE COOK button (or manual on older IPs) and set the timer to 5 mins.
  • When the IP beeps, wait for natural pressure release for 2 to 3 mins. For softer rice, you can wait upto 5 mins. Then release the rest manually by moving the steam release handle from sealing to venting.
  • Cool down a bit and then garnish ghee rice with fried onions, raisins and cashews.
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Notes

  • To double the recipe, you can double all the whole spices and keep the star anise same.
  • The recipe can be doubled & made in Instant pot. Cook time remains the same.
  • Wait for the rice to cool down a bit before garnishing.
 

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Ghee rice recipe | How to make ghee rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 589 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 38mg13%
Sodium 686mg30%
Potassium 318mg9%
Carbohydrates 91g30%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 50mg5%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

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Ghee rice recipe (Stovetop & Instant pot)Ghee rice recipe (Stovetop & Instant pot)
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About swasthi

I’m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
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Comments

  1. Advertisement
  2. sabastian raja mangaru says

    March 18, 2017

    5 stars
    ghee rice we cooked..very taste to eat with mutton gravy……..thank you….

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      March 23, 2017

      Welcome Raja Mangaru

      Reply
  3. athiraharish says

    August 25, 2016

    Adipoli recepies

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 28, 2016

      Thank you Athira

      Reply
  4. arpitha says

    June 11, 2016

    I tried swathis ghee rice recipe it was good………

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      June 13, 2016

      Thanks Arpita

      Reply
  5. Arti Sharma says

    May 26, 2016

    4 stars
    I have been following your recipes step-by-step and every time I make something it turns out to be as delicious as it looks in the pictures. I just had a small query, since the recipe is completely ghee based do you recommend any particular brand of ghee to go for. I have been cooking all my food till now with Gowardhan ghee. It’s like our family Ghee!

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 26, 2016

      Hi Arti
      Thanks for trying out the recipes. Any fresh and pure ghee can be used. The quality of ghee matters a lot for this recipe. Yes go ahead and use gowardhan ghee.

      Reply
  6. clara says

    May 16, 2016

    5 stars
    I like know how much rice to cook for 30 people and how much water for the rice.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 17, 2016

      Hi Clara
      I am sorry i am unable to help you. I have never cooked this for so many people.

      Reply
  7. Lukeman says

    January 8, 2016

    Thanks for the recipe,
    It taste good..

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      January 10, 2016

      welcome

      Reply
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  9. suma says

    November 4, 2015

    4 stars
    Hi swathi I have seen the receipe for my kid. I will try let me see she will like. Thank u so much for the step by step method. It is very good to follow

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      November 5, 2015

      Welcome Suma
      yes try it. Thank you

      Reply
  10. Sridevi says

    September 10, 2015

    All the recipes are very easy to follow & set by set pic are very useful and interesting to try. All the rice recipes for lunch box is great & my daughter is enjoying sharing with friends. Thanks

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      September 11, 2015

      Welcome Sridevi,
      I am so glad your daughter liked the lunch box foods. This really brings a smile on my face, pleasing kids is the most difficult task.
      Thanks for the feedback

      Reply
  11. S.H.Sheshu says

    August 27, 2015

    Pls let me know dumrot recipe

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 30, 2015

      You can try dumrot recipe / kasi halwa with the following measures
      4 cups grated ashgourd
      1 to 1 ΒΌ cup sugar
      ΒΌ cardamom powder
      ghee as needed
      Squeeze off little juice from ashgourd and fry it in ghee until the moisture completely evaporates. Then add sugar and continue to cook. Sugar begins to melt and the mixture turns gooey.Add cardamom powder. Cook until the moisture evaporates and turns slightly stringy., Heat more ghee and fry nuts. Pour to the halwa.

      Reply
  12. Ana says

    July 8, 2015

    5 stars
    Superb recipe

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      July 8, 2015

      Thanks

      Reply
  13. saumya says

    May 14, 2015

    5 stars
    Hi, thank you for this recipe actually I don’t know cooking but after seeing your recipes I tried and it came very nice so all my family members were happy .thank you so much.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 14, 2015

      Hi Saumya,
      Iam glad to know that your family loved the food. Welcome.

      Reply
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  15. Malathi says

    April 29, 2015

    Hi Swasthi ! Tried Ghee rice it came out very tasty! Tks all ur recipe look vy yummy! I am nt vy gud in baking Pl post a simple recipe fr me. Tks again

    Malathi
    Bangalore

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      April 29, 2015

      Thanks Malathi,
      Iam glad you liked it. i will surely post a easy baking recipe soon.

      Reply
  16. Keerthana says

    April 16, 2015

    Al d recipes was nice it’s vry easy to prepare

    Reply
  17. pruthweerani says

    March 23, 2015

    Hei m belonging to odisha…..ur recipie is realy good &osum .m husband loved it so mch…..

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      March 23, 2015

      Thank you Rani,
      Iam glad you all loved it
      πŸ™‚

      Reply
  18. Sasikalasathish says

    March 18, 2015

    5 stars
    Potato rice awesome… Thank u frnd…

    Reply
  19. Fairy says

    February 1, 2015

    5 stars
    Yay! Prepared the first version. Simple , easy n suppa yummy !
    Thank You Dearie.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      February 1, 2015

      Welcome Fairy,
      Iam glad you like it. Have a wonderful day.
      πŸ™‚

      Reply
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  21. Shalini says

    January 14, 2015

    5 stars
    I prepared this recipe today without egg (the first version). This recipe is so simple to prepare but it is very flavourful. Since from my childhood, i have never had such a wonderful ghee rice. I always had the normal ghee rice.

    Wishing you “Happy Makar Sankranti”

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      January 15, 2015

      Iam glad you liked the ghee rice.
      Thank you Shalini and wish you too a very Happy Sankranti.

      Reply
  22. yamuna balamurugan says

    December 19, 2014

    5 stars
    hi your recipe is really good and tempet me to cook soon after i close my laptop

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      December 19, 2014

      Hello Yamuna,
      πŸ™‚
      Thank you so much for the nice words. have a wonderful weekend.
      πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Dhanya says

        January 20, 2017

        I have a doubt. If i keep in cooker for how many whistles should i keep it.

        Reply
        • swasthi says

          January 21, 2017

          Hi Danya
          There are different ways of cooking
          1 whistle on a high flame if using basmathi
          or
          1 whistle on a medium flame if using normal rice
          Second method. – Cook until the rice has absorbed all the water, cover the cooker and cook for 5 to 7 mins on a very low flame, no whistles in this case

          Reply
  23. Renu navin paliwal says

    July 18, 2012

    thats different!!

    Reply
  24. kitchen queen says

    July 17, 2012

    very delicious flavourful and simple rice.

    Reply
  25. sara's TASTY BUDS says

    July 17, 2012

    very tempting with egg.This recipe is different from usual ghee rice.<br /><br />sharanya

    Reply
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