Ghee Rice with Malabar Chicken Curry

Ghee rice / Neychoru is a Malabar delicacy, a semi version of a biriyani,and is usually taken along with another equally popular dish - the Malabar Chicken Curry.

What you need for Ghee rice:

• Basmati rice - 2 cups
• Ghee  - 4 tbsp
• Onion - 1 thinly Sliced 
• Cinnamon  - 2 piece
• Cloves  - 4
• Cardamom - 2
• Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tbsp
• Star Anise  - 2
• Bay leaves  - 2
• Cashews -10 pieces
• Raisins -20 pieces
• Fried Onions  - 1/4 cup  (you can fry thinly sliced onions at home)
• Salt to taste

The preparation method:

• Soak Basmathi rice for 15 minutes to half an hour. Wash and drain the rice and keep aside.
• Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a deep pan. Add fennel seeds, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves and star anise. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
• Add onions and saute until translucent.
• Add the drained rice to the pan and stir fry for few minutes until the rice begins to change color.
• Add water to the pan along with salt and mix well. Bring it to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium low and cover the pan with a tight lid. Cook for around 10 minutes until the rice is cooked and all water has been absorbed.
• Switch off the stove and keep the rice covered for another 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp ghee in another frying pan and add cashews and raisins. Saute until cashews are lightly brown and the raisins become plump. Drain and keep aside.
• Add thinly sliced onion in to the same pan and  deep fry .Add more ghee for frying.
• Add half of the fried cashews, raisins and fried onion to the cooked rice and mix everything gently.
• Garnish the Rice with the remaining fried cashews, raisins and onions.
• Tasty ghee rice is ready to have with Malabar Chicken Curry( see recipe below).

What you need for Malabar chicken curry :

• Chicken – 500 gm
• Small onion- sliced - 1/2 cup 
• Red chilli powder -2 tbsp
• Coriander powder  – 2 tbsp
• Ginger – 1 piece  
• Garlic – 4 pods 
• Coconut – 1/2 shell  grated
• Onion - 2 big  thinly sliced
• Green chili – 2 slit 
• Tomato – 2 chopped
• Turmeric powder – 1/2 tbsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Coriander leaves -few 
• Salt to taste

The preparation method:

• Dry fry coriander powder and chilli powder for few minutes.Add shallots,curry leaves ,ginger and garlic in to it.Pour some coconut oil for frying this.Saute for some time.Add grated coconut, mix well. Fry it till the coconut becomes golden brown. Let it cool for sometime. Add enough water to the cooled coconut mixture and grind to a smooth paste.
• Heat oil in a pan and add thinly sliced onion ,curry leaves ,salt and green chili. When onion is fried well add tomato. When tomato becomes soft add turmeric powder. stir for a few minutes. Add the ground paste to this and mix well. Add cleaned chicken pieces to this, combine well and add enough water for the chicken to cook. Cover and cook in low flame and stir in between and cook till the chicken is done.
• Garnish  with curry leaves and coriander leaves
• Yummy malabar chicken curry is ready to be served with ghee rice.