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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Instant Pot Basmati Rice with Chickpeas, Herbs and Spices

    Published: May 15, 2021 · Modified: Feb 1, 2022 by Jenny

    Jump to Recipe
    basmati rice and chickpeas on a plate, seasoned with yellow turmeric and other spices

    Fluffy Instant Pot Basmati Rice with chickpeas & an aromatic blend of kid-friendly spices. An easy, flavorful side dish!

    yellow turmeric basamati rice with chickpeas this recipe

    My family loves this Instant Pot basmati rice! It's a simple side dish that's both flavorful and filling. Gentle, aromatic spices and a sprinkle of fresh herbs turn basmati into a more interesting side dish than just plain old white rice.

    You might also love Instant Pot Turmeric Coconut Rice or Instant Pot Brown Rice and Quinoa or Instant Pot Turmeric Chicken and Rice.

    What is Basmati Rice?

    Basmati is a long-grain rice, simply meaning that the individual grains of rice are longer in length. It has a mild and pleasantly nutty flavor.

    6-Minute Instant Pot Rice & Chickpeas Ingredients

    This recipe has a short list of ingredients: basmati rice, water, oil, onion and a pinch or coriander, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon. Adding fresh herbs is optional.

    bowls of ingredients to make Instant Pot basmati rice: rice, water, oil, onion and spices

    How to Make This Recipe: 3 Easy Steps

    Step 1: Saute onion and spices (coriander, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon)

    pressure cooker insert filled with onion and spices

    Step 2: Add water, rice, chickpeas and salt.

    pressure cooker insert filled with water, chickpeas, onion, white rices and spices

    Step 3: Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes, with a 10 minute natural release

    pressure cooker insert filled with cooked white rice and chickpeas

    Can I Make Plain Basmati Rice with this Recipe?

    Sure, you can use this recipe to make plain basmati rice in your Instant Pot. Just follow the recipe below, but leave out the onion, spices and chickpeas.

    1. Combine the oil, rice, water and salt in the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
    2. Follow the same cooking time, 6 minutes on high pressure and a 10 minute natural release.

    What Foods Pair with Basmati Rice?

    Basmati rice is most often served with South Asian meals. Any type of curry or dishes with Indian spices would be delicious. I also like this rice with Yogurt Flatbread and roasted vegetables.

    Because this recipe includes Middle Eastern spices, this rice also pairs well with main courses like Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce.

    Truly, though, this blend of rice and chickpeas is really versatile. I often serve this rice with just store bought hummus, cucumber yogurt sauce and pita bread for a simple dinner.

    Don't hesitate to serve basmati rice with whatever type of protein you're making for dinner, like these recipes for chicken, vegetables or turkey meatballs.

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      Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
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      Turkey Ricotta Meatballs

    Frequently Asked Questions about Cooking Basmati Rice

    Ratio of Water to Basmati Rice

    For this recipe, I use 1 ½ cups water to cook 1 ½ cups basmati rice. That's a 1:1 ratio of water to rice.

    When you cook basmati rice in a pressure cooker, the 1:1 ratio makes fluffy basmati rice that cooks into individual grains that are tender but not overly soft.

    If you prefer softer rice, then use 1 ¾ cups water for this recipe. The rice won't be quite as fluffy and will clump together a little bit, but it's still tastes really good and has a softer texture.

    On the stovetop, more water is generally used to cook rice because the water evaporates while the rice cooks. In a pressure cooker, the water won't evaporate so you can use a 1:1 ratio.

    Do I Have to Rinse Basmati Rice?

    Rinsing rice cleans the rice and also removes starch from the outside of the rice. Rinsing off this excess starch helps the rice cook into fluffier, individual grains.

    Is rinsing basmati rice absolutely necessary? This depends on how particular you are about the texture of rice. I think basmati rice turns out better when it's rinsed. However, if you're in a hurry, it's okay to cook rice without rinsing it first. Just know that if you don't rinse basmati rice, the rice might be a little stickier and clump together more.a hand holding a small fine mesh strainer filled with rice

    How Do I Rinse Rice?

    I rinse rice using a fine mesh strainer. Put rice in the strainer, then run water over the rice. I move the rice around with my fingers, to make sure the water runs over all of the grains. I usually rinse the rice for about 30 seconds, although longer is even better.

    Shake as much water as possible off of the rice, so that you're not inadvertently adding additional water to the Instant Pot.

    The second method for rinsing rice is more similar to soaking rice, in that the rice is covered with water in a bowl. Swirl the rice around with your fingers, making the water white and cloudy with starch. Drain off the water then fill the bowl again and repeat the process until the water is mostly clear, not cloudy.

    Do I Have to Soak Basmati Rice?

    I don't personally soak basmati rice before cooking it, but some recipes include soaking the rice in water for up to 30 minutes. There are several reasons that some cooks like to soak basmati rice.

    1. This can serve the same purpose as rinsing the rice, which removes starch and prevents the rice from clumping or getting sticky. 2. Soaking helps grains of rice re-hydrate and plump up. 3. Some also believe that soaking rice helps remove toxic substances, like trace arsenic.

    Can I Just Use the Instant Pot Rice Setting?

    The "Rice" button on an Instant Pot is a generic setting that cooks rice for 12 minutes at low pressure. This setting works pretty well for most types of white rice, but if you're cooking a specific type of white rice (like basmati) you'll get better results by using a very specific cooking time, like this recipe does.

    Also, the "Rice" setting takes longer because it's cooking on low pressure. If you want to get dinner on the table faster, cooking the rice for a shorter amount of time on high pressure is a better option. This recipe cooks basmati rice for 6 minutes at high pressure.

    How Do I Reheat Basmati Rice?

    I reheat leftover rice in the microwave with a sprinkle of water (about 1 tablespoon) and I loosely cover the rice while it reheats. Don't forget to add the water, or the leftover rice will be dry and hard.

    If you don't have a microwave, then reheat the rice in a sauce pan with a sprinkle of water. If the rice still seems dry, then add a little oil or butter.

    basmati rice and chickpeas on a plate, seasoned with yellow turmeric and other spices

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    Instant Pot Basmati Rice with Chickpeas, Herbs and Spices

    fluffy basmati rice and chickpeas on a plate, seasoned with yellow turmeric and other spices
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    ★★★★★

    5 from 5 reviews

    Fluffy Instant Pot Basmati Rice with chickpeas and an aromatic blend of kid-friendly spices. An easy, flavorful side dish!

    Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 10 minutes to reach pressure + 6 minutes at high pressure + 10 minute natural release

    • Author: Jenny Meier | Kitchen Skip blog
    • Prep Time: 10
    • Cook Time: 6
    • Total Time: 16 minutes
    • Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
    • Category: Side Dish
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Diet: Vegan

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 tablespoons oil (olive oil, canola oil, or coconut oil)
    • Half of an onion, finely chopped or thinly sliced
    • 1 teaspoon coriander
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
    • ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • 1 ½ cups basmati rice, rinsed (see below)
    • 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
    • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
    • Chopped fresh herbs for garnish - parsley, cilantro, mint, dill (choose one, or use a combination of herbs)
    • Optional: ¼ cup dried fruit, such as currants or golden raisins

     

    Instructions

    Rinse the Rice

    Rinsing rice removes starch, which helps the rice cook into fluffier, separate grains rather than clumping together. To rinse basmati rice, put the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse the rice under cold water, stirring with your fingers to move the rice around. I rinse rice for about 30 seconds. When the rice is rinsed, tap the strainer to shake off excess water and set the rice aside. 

    Cook the Basmati Rice 

    1. Warm the oil, using the saute function.
    2. Add the onion and spices (coriander, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon), cooking for about 2 minutes until softened. Stir often, so the onion and spices don't stick or burn to the pot. 
    3. Add the water, rice, chickpeas and salt. Stir to combine.
    4. Lock the lid. Make sure the steam release valve is in the sealed position.
    5. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
    6. Fluff the rice. Add salt to taste.
    7. Add fresh herbs (or serve herbs on the side)
    8. Add dried fruit (optional)

    Notes

    This recipe is made in a 6-quart Instant Pot.

    If you prefer softer rice, then use 1 ¾ cups water for this recipe. The rice won't be quite as fluffy and will clump together a little bit, but it's still tastes really good and has a softer texture. 

    Keywords: basmatic rice, instant pot basmati rice, spiced rice, chickpeas

    Please rate and review this recipe!

    Your reviews help other readers. They also help me provide the best recipes possible. Thanks!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Hannah

      February 15, 2022 at 8:16 am

      Would love to know what any of you put with this rice? A god chicken recipe etc?

      Reply
      • Jenny

        February 17, 2022 at 10:12 am

        Good questions! Chicken is delicious with this rice, you could make any of your favorite chicken recipes or try my Mediterranean chicken. For a vegetarian meal, you can serve roasted vegetables with the rice. I also like like shrimp or salmon with this rice.

        Reply
    2. Colleen

      May 16, 2021 at 7:37 am

      I know this rice will be a hit, especially with the raisins. I can't wait to try it out in my instant pot. Thanks for sharing!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Beth

      May 15, 2021 at 7:12 pm

      So delicious and very tasty! My family and I absolutely loved this. So many flavors and perfect for dinner! Can’t wait to make this again soon.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Jill

      May 15, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      This was so full of flavor and easy to make. Thanks!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Matthew

        December 22, 2022 at 4:28 pm

        I tried this today (using x2 serving) and I got a burnt message. When I opened up the IP the rice was already cooked through and there was minimal burning so all's well that ends well!

        Reply
        • Jenny

          December 23, 2022 at 7:25 am

          Glad to hear it turned out okay!

          Reply
    5. Cathleen

      May 15, 2021 at 6:32 pm

      I love what the Instant pot can do! This rice looks right up my alley! Definitely giving this a go this weekend, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Michelle

      May 15, 2021 at 4:02 pm

      This looks so delicious and flavourful with all the herbs and spices! Can't wait to give this a try in my Instant Pot! 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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