Nei soru (Ghee Rice) is one of the popular rice variety in Southern India, especially in Malabar region of Kerala. Its a one pot rice that is perfect for kids’ lunch box. This rice is rich in ghee with mild spices. As the name suggest, Ghee is the main ingredient. Ghee adds a nice flavor and shining to the cooked rice. The ghee rice is garnished with fried nuts and raisins. Since this is a mild rice variety we can serve with some spicy gravies like Kara Kuzhambu, Poondu Kuzhambu or relish with potato fry.
Tips for making Ghee Rice:
- Conventionally Jeeraga Samba rice is used to make this Nei soru. But we can use basmati or any raw rice.
- Soak the rice for 20 mins so it can cook faster and becomes fluffy.
- Conventionally mint or coriander leaves are not added to ghee rice, if you like you can add.
- You can cook the rice in thin coconut milk instead of plain water.
- Ratio of water to rice differ for different rice variety. I have used basmati, so used 1.5 cups of water for 1 cup of rice. For normal rice like ponni or sona masoori, we may need 2 cups of water.
- We can also make this same rice in instant pot. Follow all the steps in saute mode and finally cancel the saute mode and press the pressure cook mode and cook for 5 mins. Natural Pressure release for 10mins and then force release the vent.
Recipe Card for Ghee Rice Recipe | Nei Soru Recipe:

Ghee Rice Recipe | Nei Soru Recipe
Ghee rice, also referred popularly as Nei Soru in tamil is a very mild, yet delicious rice variety. Its a pulao with mild spices flavored with ghee. Quick, easy to make perfect one-pot rice variety!
Servings 4 people
Calories 168kcal
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Basmati Rice 1 Cup - 250ml.
- 1 Onion sliced
- 2 tbsp Cashews
- 1 tbsp Raisins
- 1¼ tsp Salt Adjust as needed
- 1½ Cup Water
For Tempering
- ¼ Cup Ghee
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
- 3 Cloves
- 2 Cardamom
- 1 Star Anise
- 3 Green Chili Slit
Instructions
Soaking Rice
- Wash and soak raw rice for about 20 mins
Tempering Process
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. When the ghee melts, keep the flame low and add bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and star anise. Give a mix.
- Then, add slit green chili and give a mix.
- Next, add sliced onions. Saute the onions in ghee till they are translucent and becomes light brown. Fry in low flame so that the onions doesn't get burnt.
- Once the onions are sautéed, add a tablespoon of cashews to the cooker.
- Next, drain water from soaked rice and add it to the pressure cooker. Gently mix the rice so that it gets nicely mixed with ghee and onions.
- Add necessary salt and 1.5 cups of water to the pressure cooker. Mix gently.
- Close the pressure cooker with lid and put the whistle. Keep the flame in high and allow for 2 whistle. Switch off the flame. Allow the pressure to naturally release.
- Open the pressure cooker lid, Ghee rice is now ready!
Garnishing time
- Heat 1/2 teaspoon of ghee in a pan. Fry raisins and cashews and take it aside.
- Add this fried raisins and cashews to the ghee rice. Gently give a mix. If you have fried onions you can garnish with fried onions.
Serving Time
- Serve the delicious Nei Soru with potato fry or simply with a raita and enjoy this mouth-watering Ghee Rice
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g
INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEP BY STEP PICTURES
SOAKING RICE
- Wash and soak raw rice for about 20 mins
TEMPERING PROCESS
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. When the ghee melts, keep the flame low and add bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and star anise. Give a mix.
- Then, add slit green chili and give a mix.
COOKING PROCESS
- Next, add sliced onions. Saute the onions in ghee till they are translucent and becomes light brown. Fry in low flame so that the onions doesn’t get burnt.
- Once the onions are sautéed, add a tablespoon of cashews to the cooker.
- Next, drain water from soaked rice and add it to the pressure cooker. Gently mix the rice so that it gets nicely mixed with ghee and onions.
- Add necessary salt
- To the cooker, now add 1.5 cups of water to the pressure cooker. Mix gently.
- Close the pressure cooker with lid and put the whistle. Keep the flame in high and allow for 2 whistle. Switch off the flame. Allow the pressure to naturally release.
- Allow the pressure to naturally release.
GARNISHING TIME
- Heat 1/2 teaspoon of ghee in a pan. Fry raisins take it aside.
- Then add the cashews and fry till golden brown. Set it aside.
- Add this fried raisins and cashews to the ghee rice. Gently give a mix. If you have fried onions you can garnish with fried onions.
SERVING TIME
- Serve the delicious Nei Soru with potato fry or simply with a raita and enjoy this mouth-watering Ghee Rice
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