Take all the guesswork out of cooking Basmati rice by using your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. This Instant Pot Basmati Rice is ready in minutes and perfectly fluffy every time! Perfect for a quick side dish or make-ahead meal prep.
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Does your rice come out sticky on the outside and still hard in the middle? Or do you feel like you have a babysit a pot on the stove so that the rice doesn’t overcook?
By making in the Instant Pot, we cut down on cooking time and it’s all prepared in one pot. Plus, the rice can be cooking completely hands-off while you focus on preparing all your taco fixings. Make sure to check out more Instant Pot Rice Recipes like my Instant Pot Brown Rice and Instant Pot Mexican Rice!
Ingredients
Basmati Rice: Naturally gluten-free, Basmati rice is also high in amino acids and folic acid and lower on the glycemic index than white rice, meaning you’ll feel full longer and won’t have a spike in sugar. It is a long-grain rice that is the perfect blank canvas for whatever you like to serve atop.
Water: For basic rice, water is the perfect liquid. You can use vegetable stock or even chicken stock if you are cooking for a specific use.
Spices: This is where you can have some fun. To keep things simple, we’ll start with using just salt and a cinnamon stick (or even just salt). The cinnamon provides a warm fragrance to the rice that is perfect for Asian and Indian cuisine.
Beyond the salt and cinnamon, two optional (but highly recommended) spices are cardamom and star anise. If you have these spices, feel free to include two cardamom pods and one star anise to give even more depth of flavor. Star anise does have a licorice-like flavor, so leave it out if you are not a fan.
Equipment
- Instant Pot (I use a 6 quart) – or other electric pressure cooker
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring Spoon
- Fork or Spatula/Rubber Scraper
How to Make Basmati Rice in the Instant Pot
- First, rinse your rice in a bowl or using a strainer until the water is clear and no longer starchy.
- Place the rinsed rice in your Instant Pot with water, salt, a cinnamon stick. Also feel free to add a couple cardamom pods and one star anise if them have them. They add to the aromatic flavor of the rice, but are completely optional.
- Close and seal the lid and set to cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is over, let natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
- Carefully open the vent to release any remaining pressure and remove the lid.
- Remove the cinnamon stick, cardamom and star anise and fluff the rice with a fork or gently fold the rice with a spatula or rubber scraper to release any remaining steam.
What to Serve with Basmati Rice
- Crock Pot General Tso Chicken
- Top with your favorite curry or tikka masala, like this Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry
- Use your leftover rice to make 15-Minute Teriyaki Ham Stir Fry
Storing and Freezing Instant Pot Rice
I like to cook a large batch of brown rice at a time. Each batch gets split up for several meals and can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to three months.
To freeze rice, let it cool completely after cooking. Then, spread it in a thin layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or a baking liner and freeze. Once frozen, you can transfer the rice to a freezer bag. This method is called “individually quick frozen” so that your grains of rice don’t freeze together. This allows you to remove portions of rice from the freezer bag as needed.
Cooking your rice in advance can save you major time when you’re ready to cook dinner. You can reheat refrigerated or frozen rice in a non-stick skillet or microwave, or use the rice to bulk up your meals.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Pork Butt (Pulled Pork)
- Corned Beef and Cabbage in the Instant Pot
- Perfect Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cardamom pods optional
- 1 star anise optional
Instructions
- Rinse the Basmati (or other long grain) rice in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
- Add the rinsed rice to your Instant Pot with the water, salt, cinnamon stick, and optional cardamom pods and star anise.
- Close and seal the lid.
- Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.
- Once cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure and remove the lid.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and optional cardamom pods and star anise and gently stir the rice with a rubber scraper by running it around the edge of the pot and folding the rice on itself. This allows any excess water to evaporate and gives you perfectly fluffy rice that holds its shape and doesn't clump.
Notes
Nutrition
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