Ghee Rice / Nei Soru Recipe
- 2. Ginger - 4 inch long piece (chopped)
- 3. Garlic - 5 pods
- (You can also add 5 spoons of chopped mint and coriander leaves; it gives an extra flavor and aroma)
Take a cooker and add ghee and after it heats up add cumin seeds and fennel seeds and let it splutter.
Then add all the spices; star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, crushed cardamom pods, and saute for a few seconds, be careful not to burn them.
Now add the cashews and saute until it turns slightly brownish, now add the raisins and wait until it puffs up. (You can do this separately and garnish the cooked rice with it, just before serving)
Then add the sliced onions, salt and saute well until it turns slightly brownish. This gives a nice flavor to the recipe.
Now add the ginger, chilly paste and saute well until the raw smell leaves.
Now drain the water from the soaked rice and add the rice (only rice, discard water) to the cooker, then saute well for 2 minutes on low flame.
Now 8 cups of water and close the lid (for 1 cup of rice add 2 cups of water and stir well. (if you want grainy rice add 7 cups of water instead of 8 cups of water, that will do).
Then check for salt and add if necessary.
Close the cooker with its lid and switch the flame to high mode. Then when the pressure/steam oozes out of the nozzle, place the regulator or weight on the nozzle and switch the flame to low mode.
Cook for perfectly 10 minutes and switch off the flame. Do not open until the pressure drops. Once the pressure drops open the lid and serve!!
TIP 1: You can use Basmati rice instead of seeraga samba rice, but seeraga samba tastes best and suits this recipe more. If you want to prepare the same with basmati rice, use just 1 cup of water with
TIP 2: You can add some coriander leaves and mint leaves while making the paste, this will give a nice flavor to the recipe. You can avoid cumin seeds and make the recipe too.
TIP 3: Making the rice grainy or little over-cooked depends on your taste. I like it grainy so I have added just 7 cups of water and it was perfectly grainy and equally cooked.
TIP 4: Adding cashews whole or chopped is according to your wish but adding whole makes the look good. If your kids don't like feeling cashews while eating then you can grind it along with ginger and add it to the recipe. Will taste richer too.
Delicious and aromatic Ghee rice is now ready!! Serve with some spicy curry and onion raita!! I served it with mutton masala, it goes really good with ghee rice!!