After the successful experiment with Instant pot Mexican Rice, the reader asks us to cook Basmati Rice in instant pot.

We’ve all been through that time where we tried to make rice and ended up with complete frustration because it came out burnt, mushy, over-cooked, or even under-cooked. This recipe is here to prevent that from ever happening to you again.

The greatest reason for preparing basmati rice is that it is extremely tasty and it is easy to make. In this article, we walk you through the best way to making Instant Pot Basmati Rice that will be the talk of your friends and family.

Many households now use an instant pot on a daily basis and for a good reason; this gadget saves time and energy. 

You will be able to make this dish in less than 30 minutes; you’ll need just half the time if you don’t soak the rice. You don’t need to watch over it, just set it and it takes care of itself!

You will be glad you gave this recipe a chance when you have beautiful fragrant grains waiting to be paired with a delicious curry.

What is Basmati rice?

Basmati rice is well-known long-grained rice that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is famous for the nutty element that makes it ideal to serve as a side dish, mixing it with soups, or even pairing it with other cuisines. 

This highly aromatic rice is very popular all over the world, especially in India and Pakistan, which are the largest exporters of it.

There are only a few steps to this recipe but each step matters. You can enjoy it with Indian food like butter chicken, or with Indian curries such as Chole Masala, Chicken Curry, and Dal Makhani. 

The great thing about this side dish is that it works for all diets: Celiac, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian.

Before cooking the rice, it is important to soak it. There are two reasons for this: the first being that soaking the rice helps take out some of the starch, which can make the rice sticky inconsistency. 

The second reason is that it allows the grains to absorb some of the moisture so the rice can become softer and cook better, and thus not having grains that can easily be broken.

You will soon discover that there are different varieties of basmati rice as well as different brands out there.

You can take your time to see which one works best for you in terms of taste and texture. 

When cooked properly, the grains of basmati rice appears to be easily separated and don’t stick together. The texture should not be watery, sticky, or mushy; but soft and fluffy.

However, the texture of your rice can be adjusted by the cooking method and the amount of water added. 

Useful Tips : 

The choice of which type or brand of Basmati rice to choose is according to the individual taste. Many people head towards organic basmati rice (which is a good choice);

however, any favorite local brand is equally good. It depends on how long you wish your rice grains to be.

 Pay close attention to the ratio of rice and water used. 1 cup of water may seem like it’s not enough but keep in mind that cooking rice on the stovetop is different than cooking it in an instant pot.

Water evaporates on the stovetop but the same does not apply to the instant pot. Besides using high-quality basmati rice, the most important factor is a water-to-rice ratio, so stick to the ratio previously specified. 

Adding oil is for the sole reason of preventing the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot. You can also use a cooking spray by spraying it lightly all over the inside of the pot.

A better alternative would be to use a type of cooking fat; one that stands out here is a tablespoon of ghee (also referred to as Indian clarified butter). It helps keep the grains separate and gives them a more authentic taste.

 After the rice cooks, we wait 10 minutes so the rice settles down.

Then releasing the pressure allows the small amount of water inside to escape in the form of steam. This prevents your rice from becoming mushy in the bottom of the pot.

 You can make this recipe more flavorful by adding herbs such as cloves, whole cardamom pods, and bay leaves. Make sure you remove the bits of the herbs before serving.

 If you chose to make this recipe with the mentioned herbs, you will need to cook them with the chosen oil or fat for 1-2 minutes until the spices are fragrant. Press CANCEL to stop sautéing.

Then add the rice, water, and salt before locking the lid in place and allowing it to cook.

 An instant pot is perfect for this recipe. If you don’t have one, you can use any similar electric pressure cooker.

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Are you looking for more easy Instant Pot Recipes?

Instant pot chicken Tikka Masala

Instant Pot Chili Mac And Cheese

Creamy Instant Pot Tomato Soup Recipe

 

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