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Home » Recipes » Rice & Grains

Instant Pot Basmati Rice

Published: Dec 15, 2021 · Modified: Mar 3, 2022 by Bhavana Patil ·This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Learn how to cook a perfect, fluffy, not sticky Indian White Basmati rice recipe every time using the Instant pot pressure cooker. Vegan and gluten-free.

cooked white basmati rice on a plate with spoon on the side

What is Basmati Rice?

Basmati is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice traditionally grown in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. - (Source Wiki). The word "basmati" in Hindi means "fragrant" or "full of aroma."

It comes in two varieties, white and brown. Both have a nutty taste and a distinct smell. It is often served alongside Indian curries or as the main ingredient in the famous rice dish Biryani or Rice Kheer from the Indian sub-continent.

white raw basmati rice in a measuring cup

Ingredients

Preparing basmati rice in the Instant Pot couldn't get easier.  You will need only two main ingredients, and the other two ingredients are entirely optional.

instant pot basmati rice ingredients
  • Basmati Rice – This long grain rice is easily avaible in local grocery stores. I like Daawat Extra Long rice brand.
  • Water – use plain water in this recipe. You can also add vegetable broth to make it more flavorful (adjust salt in this case).
  • Oil (or Ghee) – adding oil or ghee adds flavor to the grain and also helps to keep the grains separated while cooking. However its optional. If you are vegan or dairy-free, replace ghee with olive oil.
  • Salt – You can add little for seasoning the rice. It is optional.

How to Cook Perfect Basmati Rice in Instant Pot

Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch) and drain the remaining water.

Note: This is a no-soak method, and my rice always turns out soft, fluffy, and separated.

Add the rinsed rice, water, oil, and salt to the Instant Pot steel insert. Give a quick stir.

  • For softer rice: add 1 ¼ cups water.
  • For al dente rice: add 1 cup water.
step to add rinsed rice in the pot with water, salt collage

Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes.

When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then Quick Release the remaining pressure manually.

perfectly cooked rice with a ladle

Open the lid and use a fork or ladle to fluff up the rice and serve hot with curry of your choice.

fluffy cooked basmati rice in a ladle

How to Serve Basmati Rice

Serve this Indian basmati rice with any curry, dal, or sambar. You can use cooked rice in making rice dishes.

  • Chickpea Coconut Curry
  • Dal Tadka
  • Paneer Butter Masala
  • Palak Paneer
  • Mushroom Curry

FAQs

Why need to rinse the rice?

It helps to remove dirt and impurities. It also removes excessive starch making each rice grain separate and more fluffy.

Do you need to soak the rice before cooking it?

It's optional. I find this step unnecessary when cooking rice on the pressure cooker. However, it will help to reduce the cooking time when you cook rice on the stovetop pot making the rice soft and fluffy.

Is Basmati rice healthier than white rice?

No, both are high in calories and carbs.

How to store Basmati Rice?

Store Basmati rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze the leftover rice in a freezer-safe ziplock or storage container for up to 4-6 months. Then, sprinkle some water and reheat in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes to get steamy fresh rice.

How much does 1 cup of dried basmati rice yield?

You will get 3 cups of cooked basmati rice.

How long does brown basmati rice take to cook in the Instant Pot?

If you have brown basmati rice, it will take 22 minutes to cook on high pressure in the Instant Pot.

What is the rice to water ratio?

For every cup of uncooked basmati rice that is being cooked in the Instant Pot, you will need 1 ¼ cups of water. Therefore, you can easily double or triple this recipe. Note: cooking rice in an instant pot requires less liquid than the rice cooker or traditional stovetop methods.

More Instant Pot Rice Recipes

  • Mushroom Biryani
  • Chickpea Biryani
  • Ghee Rice
  • Spinach Biryani
  • Paneer Biryani
  • Jasmine Rice
Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below
cooked white basmati rice on a plate with spoon on the side

Instant Pot Basmati Rice

Bhavana Patil
Learn how to cook Indian Basmati rice perfect, fluffy, not sticky and separated grains every time using the Instant pot pressure cooker
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 2
Calories : 346
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 15 minutes
Total Time : 20 minutes

Equipment

  • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250ml

  • 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • ½ teaspoon oil (or ghee), optional
  • salt to taste, optional

Instructions
 

Instant Pot Method

  • Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch) and drain the remaining water.
    Note: This is a no-soak method and my rice always turns out soft, fluffy, and separated.
  • Add the rinsed rice, water, oil, and salt to the Instant Pot steel insert. Give a quick stir.
    For softer rice: add 1 ¼ cups water.
    For al dente rice: add 1 cup water.
    step to add rinsed rice in the pot with water, salt collage
  • Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes.
  • When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then Quick Release the remaining pressure manually.
  • Open the lid and use a fork or ladle to fluff up the rice and serve hot with curry of your choice.
    perfectly cooked rice with a ladle

Notes

I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT.
 
Note:Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 7gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 106mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
Keyword basmati rice, basmati rice in instant pot, pressure cooker basmati rice
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Hi There! Welcome to my blog! I’m Bhavana. Here you’ll find easy recipes for your Instant Pot, Kids Lunch Box ideas, Keto/LowCarb, Air-fryer recipes plus more wholesome, easy Vegetarian/Vegan Indian recipes that your family will love. More about me →

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