The easiest way to enjoy Basmati rice fluffy and delicious. Quick and in less than 10 minutes of cooking time, a delightful side dish or accompaniment to almost any meal. Here I show you how to make basmati rice in your instant pot or electric pressure cooker.
Next time, try this quick Lebanese rice, no soaking I promise.
Basmati, which is mainly grown in Pakistan or India, is a long grain white rice with a nutty floral aroma. This Middle eastern rice is a staple in our home as it goes wonderful with just about any dinner you can think of - meats, veggies, tacos, curry or as a simple side dish. Following this recipe will give you perfectly fluffy rice every time.
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- No hard work, no fuss and no pre-soaking.
- Quick side dish to be on the table during holidays or busy weeknights.
- So versatile, with spices, fresh herbs or veggies. Check variations below.
📝 Ingredients
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Turn on your instant pot to the sauté option and melt ghee.
- Add the rice and stir to coat the rice with melted ghee. Cancel the sauté option.
- Pour in water and then season with salt.
- Place the lid on and make sure the valve is set to seal. Pressure cook for 8 minutes.
- Do a manual quick release or natural pressure release, more on that below. Fluff and serve.
💡 Tips
- I like using ghee but you can use butter or olive oil for a vegan rice.
- I do not rinse or soak my basmati rice, rinsing or soaking can affect the rice to water ratio.
- It is recommended, if you rinse your rice to reduce the amount of water by 2 tablespoons.
👩🍳 Variations
Instant pot basmati rice is a very versatile recipe. With only 8 minutes of cook time, basmati rice can be an easy side dish. But it doesn't have to be boring! Rice can be made with ghee, butter or olive oil. Before sealing the lid, add some of your favorite herbs or seasonings to change up the flavor. Here are some of our favorites:
- Add half water and half chicken or vegetable broth for a more flavorful rice.
- Make Mediterranean yellow rice by adding a teaspoon of turmeric and a half teaspoon of ground cardamom.
- A big pinch of curry to make rice to serve with lamb stew or curried dishes.
- Throw in minced onions or shallots to the rice (before adding the water) for extra flavor.
- Add peeled garlic cloves to the rice before sealing the lid and they will cook while the rice cooks.
- A handful of chopped fresh herbs or a bay leave. Be sure to remove the bay leaf once the rice is cooked.
- Add cinnamon or cumin for a different kind of flavor.
Instant pot basmati rice can be served plain, but as you can see from above, it doesn't have to be!
🧺 Storage
- Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freeze cooked basmati rice in an airtight container as well. Frozen rice will stay good for about a month.
- To reheat basmati rice, cover loosely and reheat in the microwave for 1 minute, uncover and fluff then reheat again for intervals of 30 seconds until it gets soft again.
🍽️ Serve With
All kinds of stews are great with basmati rice like this beef stew, Bamya, molokhia or these Moroccan style meatballs.
💬 FAQs
It does depend on the kind of rice and how much water is added. But generally one cup of uncooked rice makes about 3 cups of cooked rice.
Actually yes. Overcooked rice is never pleasant. It becomes very mushy and sticky. Also, the flour that covers raw rice should either be washed off before cooking or as I recommend in this recipe, sautéed in oil, butter, or ghee before continuing with the cooking process.
📣 Related Recipes
- This yellow rice recipe is very fragrant and made with everyday simple spices..
- Lebanese rice or rice with vermicelli pasta is one the I grew up with eating almost daily.
- Warak Enab or stuffed grape leaves made the Egyptian way, vegetarian.
- This chicken and yellow rice recipe is easy to prepare and tastes great. It’s perfect for dinner parties or family gatherings.
- Fluffy couscous combined with nutty vibrant pesto makes this delicious 5-minutes pesto couscous. This is a great quick and easy side dish or main dish to add to your rotation.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant pot beef barley soup is a hearty comforting dish that is also quite simple to prepare. In just 30 minutes you will have dinner that is perfect for chilly evenings or anytime you want a warm and satisfying bowl of soup.
- Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice is a quick one pot dinner that you'll pit on repeat. An Asian inspired dinner with tender chicken, a blend of vegetables, rice and scrambled egg that is both satisfying and delicious.
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🥣 Equipment
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Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Equipment
- Instant pot
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tablespoon ghee
- 1 cup Basmati rice 200g
- 1 ¼ cups of water use tap cold water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Turn on your instant pot to the sauté option and melt ghee.
- Add the cup of rice and stir to coat the rice with melted ghee.
- Cancel the sauté option.
- Pour in the water and season with salt.
- Place the lid on and make sure the valve is set to seal.
- Pressure cook for 8 minutes on high pressure.
- When the rice is done, you can manual release by turning the valve to the release option. This will give you a chewier but thoroughly cooked rice.
- You can also wait for it to natural release for 10 minutes and then do a manual release for the remaining pressure. This will give you a softer rice.
- Fluff and serve.
Notes
- I like using ghee as it gives a delicious nutty flavor to the rice. You can use butter or olive oil for a vegan rice.
- I do not rinse or soak my basmati rice, rinsing or soaking can affect the rice to water ratio.
- It is recommended, if you rinse your rice to reduce the amount of water by 2 tablespoons.
- All kinds of stews are great with basmati rice like this beef stew, Bamya or these Moroccan style meatballs.
- Store any leftover in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freeze cooked basmati rice in an airtight container as well. Frozen rice stays good for about a month.
- To reheat, cover loosely and reheat in the microwave for 1 minute, uncover and fluff then reheat again for intervals of 30 seconds until it gets soft again.
- If your rice is still dry add a little amount of water and reheat again. You can also reheat in the rice cooker or on the stovetop.
- You can use herbs and spices. I always make Mediterranean yellow rice by adding a teaspoon of turmeric and a half teaspoon of ground cardamom.
Lucille M Laird
I learn so much from your posts and recipes. Thank you.
Amira
Thank you so much Lucille.