How To Cook Basmati Rice - Instant Pot

Cooking perfect basmati rice in Instant Pot is quite simple than you may think. Try this quick and easy recipe for making perfectly fluffy, non-sticky, aromatic basmati rice in the Instant Pot each time!

BASMATI RICE

Basmati Rice is a variety of long, slender-grained, aromatic rice with slight nutty flavor. Basmati rice is traditionally from Indian subcontinent. This variety of rice has gained popularity all over the world due to its rich, aromatic flavor and taste.

Basmati rice can be served with a variety of dishes such as lentils, beans, curries. Some of the dishes are Dal Makhani, Butter Chicken, Rajma Masala.

WHAT TYPE OF BASMATI RICE TO CHOOSE

There are several varieties, different brands of basmati rice to choose from. I buy basmati rice from local Asian/Indian grocery stores. Choose the one which is easily available to you.

DO I NEED TO SOAK BASMATI RICE BEFORE COOKING

Traditionally, basmati rice is soaked prior to cooking for good reasons. One of the main reasons, for soaking the rice is to remove excess starch from the rice. Soaking helps separate the grains and allows for more fluffy, less sticky rice. It also helps, absorb the grains some liquid prior to cooking, thus making them soft from inside out.

Basmati rice is a aromatic rice, soaking the rice reduces the cooking time, thus preserving the flavor.

HOW TO COOK PERFECT BASMATI RICE

Cooking basmati rice is actually quite simple than you may think. Follow few basic steps and you will have perfect basmati rice always. While cooking perfect basmati rice the amount of water and time is quite essential.

I prefer to soak the basmati rice, however you can also make this recipe without soaking the rice. Adjust the amount of water accordingly. Please refer to the cooking guide described later in the post.

Traditionally, when basmati rice is cooked on a stove top, in an open pot, it requires double the amount of water. However in Instant pot, much less water is required to get perfectly cooked rice.

In open pot the water evaporates quickly, wheres in Instant pot the water does not escape due to the closed lid. Thus, the ratio of rice to water will significantly vary in both the cooking methods.

INSTANT POT BASMATI RICE

Cooking basmati rice in Instant Pot is so easy. This is my go to recipe for making perfect, aromatic basmati rice.

You will need INSTANT POT, FINE MESH SIEVE

Using a fine mesh sieve, rinse the rice under cold running water for couple of minutes or until the water runs clear. Drain the rice well.

Add oil, rinsed, and drained rice, water, and salt to taste. Mix gently. Close lid, vent sealed.

Turn ON MANUAL / PRESSURE COOK  (high) 4 minutes, and select DELAY START for 20 minutes.

Note: Turn OFF “keep warm” mode.

When the instant pot beeps, let pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, release the remaining pressure.

Open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

HOW DO I KNOW IF RICE IS COOKED RIGHT

I think this is more like a personal preference. For some, al dente rice defines perfect, wheres for others it might be soft. This is how we like our basmati rice. For me perfectly cooked basmati rice is:

NON STICKY

SEPARATE GRAINS

SOFT BUT NOT MUSHY

FLUFFY

AROMATIC

PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT BASMATI RICE

Rinse the rice few times. This helps remove some of the starch, that causes rice to be sticky.

Soak the rice for 20 minutes, adds flavor and texture to basmati rice. Please refer to the post earlier - DO I NEED TO SOAK BASMATI RICE BEFORE COOKING

Using some kind of fat such as ghee, butter or some neutral oil, helps keep grains separate. Oil also acts as a non-stick coating for the inner pot, thus preventing rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Turn OFF the "Keep warm" setting. Leaving the "keep warm" setting ON, makes rice more dry and sticky.

For al dente rice, use less water, the cooking time will remain the same.

For soft, tender rice add more water, the cooking time stays the same.

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