Perfect Basmati Rice
I have an InstaPot and I love it.
One of the great aspects of this little pressure cooking wonder is that it has the ability to perfectly steam rice.
No more guessing about the rice.
This cooks it right every time.
So wonderful.
This rice has a bit of salt, butter, and onion in it so it has a really nice flavor. It isn’t overpowering but makes for a nice side dish. If you want straight-up rice without the extras just add 2 cups rice and 2 cups of water to the rice steamer and follow the cooking instructions. You’ll have pure rice.
I make rice all the dang time. In the winter I constantly make potatoes. In summer it seems that rice is my go-to starch.
Rice Tips to Consider-
- I like my rice to be al dente. I want it to have a bite.
- If you follow the package instructions there will be too much water (in my opinion) in the rice and it will be mushy or gummy.
- Cooking time does not affect the consistency of the rice as much as the amount of water does.
- The perfect ratio is 1:1 as far as I am concerned. This means if I am making 2 cups of rice I’ll add 2 cups of water. If I’m making 3 cups of rice I add 3 cups of water.
- I always rinse my rice (which actually adds a couple of tablespoons of water per cup of rice) which is one reason the 1:1 ratio works.
- I add a couple of tablespoons of fat to my rice (lard or butter) which also adds liquid to the recipe.
So for the perfect WHITE rice-
- Rinse the rice first (this adds moisture and removes arsenic)
- Add a tablespoon of fat (per cup) of rice
- THEN add the exact same amount of water as you do rice to the pot
Your rice will be fantastic. If you like softer rice, increase the water to your preference.
If you are making brown rice, the ration will be slightly different. Brown rice needs a bit more water. Go here for brown rice recipe.
To make it the flavorful way:
Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the bottom of the InstaPot bowl and toss in 1/2 of an onion (diced).
Turn the pot on to “pressure cook” on the High setting and saute the onion until it is soft.
Rinse the rice well in cool water and then add it to the pot with the sauteed onions.
Stir in the rice and add the teaspoon of salt.
Add the water, give it all a stir, and then put the lid on.
Hold on to your hats because it is about to get wild.
Set the InstaPot to cook for 6 minutes.
What the heck? Is this possible?
YES! I’ve done this 20 times – it works!
After the 6 minutes, the Instapot will begin counting up.
What is happening? The Instapot has a “keep warm” function. When it has completed the cooking time it automatically switches to “keep warm” and will keep the food warm for up to 10 hours (I think).
As the food is on the “keep warm” stage, a timer is going and will let you know how long the pot has been keeping your food warm.
When it reaches 10 minutes, release the pressure and open the lid.
The rice is done! Fluff with a fork and serve with some Pork Carnitas (recipe here) or Steak Kabobs (recipe here) or Stir Fry Supper (recipe here), or anything!
XO,
Candi
| Servings |
cups
|
- 2 cups basmati rice rinsed
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp butter or other fat
- 1/2 onion diced
Ingredients
|
|
Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the bottom of the InstaPot bowl and toss in 1/2 of an onion (diced).
Turn the pot on to "pressure cook" on the High setting and saute the onion until it is soft.
Stir in the rice and add the teaspoon of salt.
Add the water and then put the lid on.
Set the InstaPot to pressure cook on high for 6 minutes.
After the 6 minutes, the Instapot will begin counting up.
When it reaches 10 minutes, release the pressure and open the lid.
The rice is done!
