Tired of mushy or undercooked basmati rice? Cooking fluffy, fragrant rice has never been easier than with the Instant Pot. This is the best way that delivers perfectly tender rice with minimal effort and in just 10 minutes!
Next time, try this quick Lebanese rice, no soaking I promise.
Basmati rice, which is mainly grown in Pakistan or India, is a long-grain 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 white basmati rice every time.
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Instant Pot rice
- No stirring, no watching over the stovetop, and no pre-soaking. Freeing you up for other tasks.
- This is a quick side dish with no guesswork; I give you the proper water-to-rice ratio for a fluffy texture every time.
- So versatile, with spices, fresh herbs or veggies. Check the variations below.
Ingredients you'll need
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.
Adaptable recipe – make it your own!
This perfect Instant pot basmati rice is good as is but it is a very versatile recipe too. 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 leaf. Be sure to remove the bay leaf once the rice is cooked.
- Add cinnamon or cumin for a different kind of flavor.
Before you begin: essential tools
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- 6-quart Instant Pot.
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Step by step: 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 in the inner pot.
- Add the rice and stir to coat the rice with melted ghee. Cancel the sauté option.
- Pour in 1 ¼ cup of water and then season with salt.
- Place the lid on and make sure the valve is set to seal. Set pressure cooking time to 8 minutes.
- Do a manual quick release or natural pressure release; more on that below. Fluff and serve.
Your questions answered: 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.
Yes, but increase the cooking time to 22 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
My notes
- I like using ghee, but you can use butter or olive oil for 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 two tablespoons.
🧺 Storage
Refrigerate - Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freeze - Freeze cooked basmati rice in a freezer safe container as well. Frozen rice will stay good for about a month.
Reheat- To reheat basmati rice, add a splash of water, 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. You can also steam on the stovetop until heated through.
Perfect pairings: what to serve with
Instant Pot basmati rice is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with a wide range of dishes, like this beef stew, Bamya, molokhia or these Moroccan style meatballs.
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And now, what are you waiting for? Go grab your instant pot and enjoy your new fluffy Basmati rice life! A game changer.
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
Nutrition
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Lucille M Laird
I learn so much from your posts and recipes. Thank you.
Amira
Thank you so much Lucille.