Malabar Ghee Rice / Naichoru

Ingredients

• 2 cups biryani rice or use best quality basmati rice
• 3 1/2 cups hot water
• salt,as needed
• few fresh spices(cloves,bay leaves,star anise,cardamom)
• 1 tbs ghee / clarified butter
• 1 onion
• cashew nuts and raisins, to garnish
• 1 tsp fresh garam masala
• 1 drop rose essence

Directions

Heat ghee in a thick bottomed vessel. Fry onion slices on low heat till golden brown and set aside.Fry cashews and raisins in the same pan and keep aside.Throw some fresh spices and saute till nice aroma appears. Add rice to this and fry for 1 minute (just warm up only so that rice is covered with ghee). Add hot water,adjust salt and add 1 drop of rose water. Cook the rice at high heat till the water starts to boil, then lower the heat and cook covered till rice becomes soft .Sprinkle fresh garam masala ,cover with aluminum foil and bake at 300 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with ghee fried raisins,onions,cashews and some fresh cilantro leaves. Serve with spicy egg masala,chicken curry ,pickle,raita etc...I served it with Soya Chunks Gravy....