RECIPES OF SRI LANKA

Ghee Rice (Buttered Rice)

Ingredients

2 cups

1 cup

1 large

4

6

3 inch pieces

2 1/2 tsp

3 1/2 cups

Basmati rice (or other long-grain rice)
Ghee (or butter)
Onion (finely sliced)
Cloves
Cardamom pods (crushed)
Cinnamon stick

Salt (adjust to taste)
Hot beef, chicken, or mutton stock (or water and stock cubes)

1. Wash rice well and drain at least 30 minutes
2. Heat ghee in a saucepan and sauté onion until golden and add spices and rice
3. Sauté, stirring with perforated metal spoon for 5 minutes over moderate heat
4. Add hot stock and salt and bring to a boil
5. Reduce heat to very low, cover pan tightly, and cook 15-20 minutes without lifting lid
6. At end of cooking time, uncover and allow steam to escape and let it stand for 5 minutes
7. Gently fluff up rice with fork, removing whole spices
8. When transferring rice to a serving dish, use perforated metal spoon to avoid crushing rice grains
9. Serve hot, accompanied by curries of meat and vegetables, pickles, and sambols