Can either white or red quinoa be used in this recipe?

Yes, you can use either white or red quinoa for this recipe and follow the same ingredient amount and instructions.

Won't the white quinoa be overcooked?

It's true that white quinoa cooks very quickly in a pressure cooker. When cooking white quinoa alone in the Instant Pot, I use recipe for Instant Pot quinoa to cook it for just 1 minute. When white quinoa is cooked for 22 minutes with brown rice, it gets very soft and blends right in to the brown rice. My kids, who aren't huge quinoa fans, like it this way, and I like sneaking protein-rich quinoa into the rice!

What about red quinoa?

Instant Pot red quinoa cooks fully in about 15 minutes. When red quinoa is used in this recipe, which cooks for 22 minutes, the quinoa remains visible and is soft but still has a slightly chewy texture.

Can I use any type of brown rice?

Yes, any variety of brown rice should work fine.

Can the brown rice and quinoa be used in a salad?

Yes, this blend makes delicious brown rice and quinoa salads. Just chill the grains after they cook, then add your favorite dressing and other salad ingredients.

Can I use stock instead of water?

You can, but it's not really necessary. Just water and salt add plenty of flavor.

Can I use white rice for this recipe?

No, the cooking time and amount of water for white rice is different. To make plain white Instant pot rice, follow my recipe and tips for Failproof Instant Pot rice.

Brown Rice with Quinoa (Instant Pot)

Name: Brown Rice with Quinoa (Instant Pot)
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon oil (avocado oil, sunflower oil, olive oil); 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1 3/4 cups water; 1 cup brown rice (long or short grain); ½ cup white or red quinoa; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon chili powder

Brown Rice with Quinoa (Instant Pot)

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4.6 from 8 reviews

Easy Instant Pot brown rice and quinoa, fluffy and perfectly cooked. Use white or red quinoa.

To make healthy burrito bowls, follow the recipe below that adds spices, black beans, shredded cabbage and cheese.

*This recipe was updated on 3/24/21 to decrease the amount of water from 2 cups to 1 3/4 cups.

Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 10 minutes to reach pressure + 22 minutes cooking time + 10 minute natural release

Author: Jenny Meier | Kitchen Skip blog
Prep Time: 8
Cook Time: 22
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

Basic Brown Rice and Quinoa

1 tablespoon oil (avocado oil, sunflower oil, olive oil)
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 3/4 cups water
1 cup brown rice (long or short grain)
1/2 cup white or red quinoa
1/2 teaspoon salt

Brown Rice and Quinoa Burrito Bowls

Use all the ingredients above for Basic Brown Rice and Quinoa and also add...

2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder

After the brown rice & quinoa have cooked, then add:

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 to 2 cups shredded cabbage (green or purple)
1 to 2 cups grated cheese

Complete your burrito bowls by adding salsa, avocado, green onion, etc...

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Instructions

If the package of quinoa doesn't say that the quinoa is rinsed or pre-washed, make sure to rinse it briefly under running water. I use a mesh strainer for this.
Heat the oil in the Instant Pot, using the Saute function.
Add the garlic and saute about 30 seconds.
Add the water, brown rice, quinoa, and salt. Stir.
If making burrito bowls, also add garlic powder, cumin and chili powder.
Press the Manual button and program the Instant Pot to cook for 22 minutes on high pressure. Make sure the lid is locked in place and the steam valve is in the sealed position.
After the cooking time is done, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes.
If you're making burrito filling, stir in the black beans, shredded cabbage and grated cheese.

Notes

Brown Rice Cooking Time: The cooking time for brown rice in the Instant Pot ranges from 20 to 25 minutes. I find that 22 minutes is just right, but if you like your brown rice a little more firm and chewy, then you might want to cook this recipe for 20 minutes.

Quinoa Cooking Time: White quinoa cooks very quickly in a pressure cooker. When cooking white quinoa alone in the Instant Pot, I use this Instant Pot quinoa recipe to cook it for just 1 minute. Red quinoa cooks fully in about 15 minutes. So the cooking time of 22 minutes for this recipe is to make sure the brown rice is fully cooked. When white quinoa is cooked for this long, it gets very soft and blends right in to the brown rice. My kids, who aren't huge quinoa fans, like it this way, and I like sneaking protein-rich quinoa into the rice! When red quinoa is used in this recipe, it remains visible and adds a slightly chewy texture.

Do I have to rinse the brown rice and quinoa? Rinsing the brown rice is optional. Some people do, to wash away any dust or odd bits. Rinsing quinoa is recommended because it has a natural outer coating called saponin that can make the cooked grains taste bitter. Rinsing the quinoa removes this coating. These days, however, a lot of packaged quinoa is already pre-washed. I only rinse it if the package does not indicate that it is pre-washed.

Can I use red quinoa for this recipe? Yes, you can use either white or red quinoa. White quinoa will almost disappear into the brown rice. Red quinoa will remain visible and add a slightly chewy texture.

This recipe was tested in a 6-quart instant Pot

Find it online: https://www.kitchenskip.com/brown-rice-and-quinoa-instant-pot/