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Muslim-Style Ghee Rice, Neychoru, How to make Ghee rice

If you’ve ever searched for “Muslim-style ghee rice,” “Ghee rice in pressure cooker,” “Tamil Muslim neychoru,” or “Ghee rice ,” you’ve landed in the right kitchen. This is my mother-in-law’s recipe—a timeless one-pot version made with raw rice, ghee, whole spices, and fresh mint, all gently simmered with onion, tomato, and green chilli. It’s the kind of ghee rice Muslim families make on Fridays, during Bakrid, or even midweek—quick, fragrant, and deeply soulful.

No basmati. No dum. No coconut milk. Just humble ingredients, cooked in a pressure cooker, the way she’s been doing it for years—soft, buttery Ghee pulao ready in 10 minutes.

A Bite of History: Neychoru in Muslim Kitchens

The name “neychoru” comes from ney (ghee) and choru (rice), a dish found across South Indian Muslim households—from the lanes of Kayalpattinam to the homes of Madurai and Ambur. While biryani shines on special occasions, neychoru is the quiet hero—served with mutton salna, egg curry, or even a simple onion raita.

My mother-in-law never wrote this recipe down—but she made it from memory, often by feel, always with love. This post is my way of documenting her way of cooking—Muslim ghee rice made in a pressure cooker, with raw rice, whole spices, no fuss, no dum, and definitely no basmati.

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Neychoru Ingredients & Their Role

Ingredient	Role in the Recipe
Raw Rice	Traditional choice for Muslim-style neychoru; absorbs flavor and gives a soft texture
Ghee	Base fat for roasting and aroma; adds richness, shine, and festive taste
Whole Spices	Infuses the rice with warmth and subtle spice like in Muslim wedding rice
Cashews	Roasted in ghee for texture and luxurious flavor
Onions	Adds sweetness and depth after being sautéed to golden brown
Green Chillies	Brings gentle heat and freshness to balance the richness
Mint Leaves	Offers a cooling, fragrant lift; signature of Muslim neychoru
Ginger Garlic Paste	Builds base flavor and adds savory depth to the ghee pulao
Tomatoes	Adds mild tanginess and moisture without overpowering the dish
Salt	Enhances all other flavors and balances richness
Water	The correct ratio ensures perfectly cooked, fluffy grains in a pressure cooker

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Muslim-Style Ghee Rice, Neychoru, How to make Ghee rice

Recipe by Sandhya Riyaz

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: Main CourseCuisine: South Indian Muslim, Tamil MuslimDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Soaking Time

minutes

Muslim-style ghee rice made with raw rice, ghee, whole spices, and mint – cooked in a pressure cooker without dum.

Ingredients to make Neychoru Muslim Style

2 cups, 2 Raw rice (soaked for 30 minutes)
3 to 4 tablespoon, 3 to 4 Ghee
8 to 10 nos. 8 to 10 Cashews
1 nos. 1 Onion (large, sliced thin)
2 nos 2 Green chilies (slit)
½ cup, ½ Mint leaves
1½ teaspoon, 1½ Ginger garlic paste
1 nos. 1 Tomato (medium sized)
3¼ cups, 3¼ Water
Salt , as needed
Whole Spices
1 nos 1 Bay leaf
4 nos. 4 cloves
2 nos. 2 Cardamom
½ stick, ½ Cinnamon

Directions to make Muslim Style Ghee rice

Soak Rice
Wash and soak rice for 10 minutes.
Prepare the Base
In a pressure cooker, heat ghee. Add whole spices and cashews. Let them turn aromatic.
Sauté Onions and Chilies
Add sliced onions and green chilies. Sauté until onions turn golden brown at the edges.
Add Mint and Aromatics
Toss in mint leaves and sauté for 1 minute. Add ginger garlic paste and cook until raw smell disappears.
Tomato Time
Add roughly chopped tomatoes. Cook until they soften slightly but retain shape.
Add Water and Rice
Pour in 3¼ cups water and salt. When it comes to a boil, add soaked and drained rice.
Perfect Pressure Cooking
Once the rice starts to boil again, close the lid. Cook on low flame for 10 minutes (no whistle). After 10 minutes fluff it and serve it hot with chicken kuzhambu.

Notes

1 cup = 250 ml

Directions to make Easy ghee rice in cooker with step by step images

Soak Rice
Wash and soak rice for 10 minutes.
Prepare the Base
In a pressure cooker, heat ghee. Add whole spices and cashews. Let them turn aromatic. Add sliced onions and green chilies. Sauté until onions turn golden brown at the edges.
Add Mint
Toss in mint leaves and sauté for 1 minute.
Add ginger garlic paste:
Add ginger garlic paste and cook until raw smell disappears.
Tomato Time
Add roughly chopped tomatoes. Cook until they soften slightly but retain shape.
Add Water and Rice
Pour in 3¼ cups water and salt. When it comes to a boil, add soaked and drained rice. Once the rice starts to boil again, close the lid.
Perfect Pressure Cooking
Once the rice starts to boil again, close the lid. Cook on low flame for 10 minutes (no whistle). After 10 minutes fluff it and serve it hot with Muslim style chicken kuzhambu.

Fragrant Muslim-style ghee rice cooked in a pressure cooker with raw rice and whole spices

Pro Tips for Perfect Muslim Ghee Rice in Pressure Cooker

Soak raw rice for at least 30 minutes. This helps it cook evenly and absorb the ghee and spice flavors better.
For the best aroma, use freshly opened ghee or homemade ghee. Avoid oil blends.
Add tomatoes only after the ginger-garlic paste is cooked—this prevents the base from turning overly sour.
Don’t add too much water. For ghee rice without basmati, a 1:1.5 ratio (rice:water) works well in the cooker.
Do not give any whistle while pressure cooking. Just 10 minutes on low flame after boiling will give fluffy rice.

Serving Suggestions for Muslim Wedding-Style Ghee Rice

Serve with Egg drop curry, Chicken kurma, or Muslim style chicken kuzhambu for an authentic wedding meal feel.
For lighter meals, pair with onion raita, cucumber pachadi, or even simple brinjal curry.
This Friday lunch special rice also tastes great with just fried papad and pickled onions.
During Eid or Bakrid, pair it with Chicken kola urundai or Murtanjan to complete the festive spread.

FAQ – Common Questions About Muslim Neychoru / Ghee Pulao

How to make Muslim-style ghee rice in a pressure cooker without basmati?

Use raw rice or sona masoori instead of basmati. Soak it, then cook with ghee, whole spices, mint, and tomato in a pressure cooker for 10 minutes on low flame without whistle.

Is coconut milk used in Muslim neychoru?

No, this Tamil Muslim version skips coconut milk completely. It gets its flavor from ghee, onions, mint, and spices.

What’s the best rice for ghee pulao without dum?

Raw rice works beautifully for cooker ghee rice recipes. It turns soft, non-sticky, and soaks in all the flavor without needing dum.

Why do some Muslim ghee rice recipes use tomato?

Tomato adds a subtle tang and balances the richness of ghee. It’s common in home-style Muslim cooker ghee rice recipes, especially in Tamil Nadu.

Can I make this ghee rice recipe without green chilli or onion?

You can, but it will lose some of its classic heat and base flavor. For no-onion versions, increase mint and spices slightly to compensate.