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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Instant Pot Basmati Rice with Chickpeas

Name: Instant Pot Basmati Rice Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 16 min
Cuisine: Middle Eastern and North African
Ingredients: 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 1/2 cups water; 1 ½ cups basmati rice, rinsed (see below); 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 1/2 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

Instant Pot Basmati Rice Recipe

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

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5 from 6 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
Cuisine: Middle Eastern and North African
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
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed (see below)
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Chopped fresh herbs for garnish - parsley, cilantro, mint, dill (choose one, or use a combination of herbs)
Optional: 1/4 cup dried fruit, such as currants or golden raisins

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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

Warm the oil, using the saute function.
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.
Add the water, rice, chickpeas and salt. Stir to combine.
Lock the lid. Make sure the steam release valve is in the sealed position.
Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
Fluff the rice. Add salt to taste.
Add fresh herbs (or serve herbs on the side)
Add dried fruit (optional)

Notes

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

If you prefer softer rice, then use 1 3/4 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.

Find it online: https://www.kitchenskip.com/instant-pot-basmati-rice-with-chickpeas-herbs-and-spices/