butter rice

4.5 from 2 votes

butter rice

butter rice or makhani chawal or buttered rice is a delicious variety of rice dish in the indian cuisine with rice grains and some spices cooked in butter or makhan.

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: main course

Cuisine: north indian

Servings:

Calories: 306kcal

Author: Dassana Amit

Ingredients

½ cup basmati rice
2 tablespoon butter - white or salted
1 small tej patta (indian bay leaf)
½ inch cinnamon (dalchini)
2 cloves (lavang)
2 green cardamoms (choti elaichi)
8 to 10 cashews (kaju) - OPTIONAL
1 to 1.25 cups water OR add as required
salt as required

Instructions

soaking rice

rinse ½ cup basmati rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch.
then soak rice in enough water for 30 minutes.
after 30 minutes drain all the water and keep the rice aside.

making butter rice

keep a thick bottomed pan on stove top. keep the flame to a low. add 2 tbsp white butter in the pan.
let the butter just melt.
when the butter has almost finished melting, add the following whole spices - 1 small tej patta, ½ inch cinnamon, 2 cloves and 2 green cardamoms.
then add 8 to 10 cashews. on a low flame saute the cashews.
saute till the cashews turn a light golden or golden. you can skip cashews if you want or you can fry or roast cashews separately and then add them as garnish.
now add the rice.
gently stir and mix the rice with the butter and spices+cashews. the butter should coat the rice grains well.
then add 1 to 1.25 cups water. depending on the quality of rice used, you can add less or more water.
season with salt as per taste. keep a check on salt if using salted butter.
mix well. check the taste of water and it should taste slightly salty.
cover the pan with its lid and simmer butter rice on a low flame till the rice grains are tender and all the water is absorbed. you can check the rice at intervals and if required add some more water.
once done, remove the lid and gently fluff the butter rice.
serve butter rice with any north indian dal or gravy of your choice. you can garnish makhani chawal with some chopped coriander leaves or mint leaves.

Notes

recipe can be halved or doubled.
you can skip cashews or add your choice of dry fruits like almonds, pistachios or raisins.
if you do not have butter, then you can use ghee instead.

Nutrition