Instant pot rice pilaf made with Basmati rice and cumin seeds is an aromatic Asian side dish. This classic recipe of jeera rice is delicious, quick, and easy. Make it in the Instant Pot in just 4 minutes!
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Restaurant-style food at home
If you have ever visited an Indian restaurant, you would have seen Jeera Rice on their menu!
What is Jeera rice? Also known as Cumin Rice, is one of the most popular side dishes served at Indian restaurants and commonly prepared in Indian homes.
Here, the rice is toasted and cooked with whole spices like cumin, cloves, and bay leaves.
The rich aroma helps work up an appetite. You can pair it perfectly with curries or stews.
It is also one of the easiest to make at home, thanks to the Instant Pot. Here are some recipes that can be made in the Instant Pot.
How to make Jeera Rice
Benefits of cumin
One of the key ingredients in this recipe is cumin or jeera (in Hindi). It is a very common ingredient in Asian cooking. In fact, the Indian tempering or tadka almost always includes cumin seeds.
It not only gives flavor to the dish, but it also has lots of medicinal properties.
- Promotes digestion
- Boosts immunity
- Helps in fighting the common cold
- Has an anti-inflammatory effect
- Contains antioxidants
If you like making spice mixes at home, then check out this homemade cumin powder recipe.
Why this recipe is a keeper
Till the Instant pot came along, I used to always make this dish using leftover or precooked rice. Making rice dishes especially with basmati rice in the Instant Pot is such a breeze now.
I don't have to worry about sticky or mushy rice. It is always perfectly cooked, just the way I want it. There are other reasons to make this recipe of jeera rice!
- A great alternative to plain rice
- An extremely aromatic and flavorful one-pot meal
- Can easily be made vegan with just one swap - ghee
- Cook time is just 4 minutes in the Instant Pot
- No chopping or soaking of any sorts needed
- It is naturally gluten-free
Ingredients needed 🧾
As you can see from the above image, you need very basic pantry staples to make this recipe of jeera rice. Also, since this is made in the Instant Pot, you need that too!
One of the main ingredients to make the most flavorful Jeera rice is a good quality aged Basmati rice. And in the Instant pot, Basmati rice always cooks perfectly.
You can either use the regular cumin seeds or jeera that is easily available in all the grocery stores or use shah jeera (caraway seeds). It is darker and tastes much sweeter than the normal jeera.
Jeera Rice tastes the best when cooked in ghee. However, you can use (dairy or non-dairy) butter or any vegetable oil as well.
Whole spices give this rice an earthy flavor and they lend a wonderful aroma to this simple side dish. If not all, add whatever of these you have handy.
How to make it 🔪
You can view the above video to see how to make this Asian side dish or follow the recipe steps below.
- Wash the rice a couple of times and keep it aside. No need to soak it in water.
- Turn on the Instant pot in saute mode. Add ghee and once it melts, add cumin seeds, fry for 10 seconds.
- Then add the slit green chilies, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cloves, and peppercorns to the pot. Next, add the cashews and fry till they turn light golden.
- Add the rinsed rice and saute for a couple of seconds. This step is important as it helps to ensure that you get separate grains when cooked.
- Then add half of the chopped cilantro. Add salt, give it a good mix and cook for a minute.
- Next add 2 ½ cups of water, mix, and turn off the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid with the vent in the sealing position. Select pressure or manual mode and cook for 4 minutes. Release the pressure 5 minutes after the pot beeps.
- Open and fluff the rice lightly using a fork. Garnish with cilantro.
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Serving suggestions 🍽
Serve this Indian Instant Pot Rice Pilaf warm. Drizzle some ghee on top before eating.
The most popular combination is to serve Jeera Rice with Dal Tadka with some raita, pickle, and papad on the side.
The other favorite combo is to serve it with Chana Masala. But you can pair this Asian side dish with any lentil stew or curry.
Some recipes to pair it with
Top recipe tips 💭
Always use good quality aged Basmati rice because they are less starchy. Need to wash the rice well but there is no need to soak it prior to cooking.
Ensure that the rice is cooked al dente. The grains need to be separate and not become sticky. Don't add too much water while cooking it.
If you don't have Basmati rice, you can also use regular rice or make this same recipe using cauliflower rice or alternate grains like quinoa, or brown rice. Just adjust the cooking time and water ratio accordingly.
You can prepare this Instant Pot rice pilaf only with cumin seeds and minus the other whole spices. However, that will alter the flavor.
Add green peas, paneer and/or onions to make it even more flavorful.
You can double this recipe of jeera rice, but you need not increase the cooking time. Jeera Rice can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. It stays well for 2-3 days. You may also freeze it.
FAQs 📖
Simply use dairy-free butter or any vegetable oil in place of ghee.
No problem. You can easily make this Asian side dish on the stovetop. You can do that in two ways.
Cook the rice separately using a rice cooker or use leftover rice and then fry all the other ingredients in a pan and add the cooked rice to it. Give it a good mix and it's done!
Follow the Instant Pot recipe but use a pressure cooker instead.
More recipes to try
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Recipe 📖
Jeera Rice In The Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- 2 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoon ghee or use vegan butter
- 10 raw cashews
- 5-6 cloves
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
- 3 green chilies
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaf
- 3 tablespoon cilantro chopped
- Salt
Instructions
- Wash the rice a couple of times and keep it aside. No need to soak it in water.
- Turn on the Instant pot in saute mode. Add ghee and once it melts, add cumin seeds, fry for 10 seconds.
- Then add the slit green chilies, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cloves, and peppercorns to the pot. Next, add the cashews and fry till they turn light golden.
- Add the rinsed rice and saute for a couple of seconds. This step is important as it helps to ensure that you get separate grains when cooked.
- Then add half of the chopped cilantro. Add salt, give it a good mix and cook for a minute.
- Next add 2 ½ cups of water, mix, and turn off the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid with the vent in the sealing position. Select pressure or manual mode and cook for 4 minutes. Release the pressure 5 minutes after the pot beeps.
- Open and fluff the rice lightly using a fork. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
Want to save this recipe?
We'll email this recipe to you, so that you can look at it later!
Maria says
I don’t have cumin seed. Can I use powder?
Priya says
You can use but the seeds give it a nice flavor.
Alisa Infanti says
This recipe was a snap to prepare and loved by my family.
Priya says
I am so happy to hear that 🙂
Cate says
Gorgeous pictures and this rice looks so delicious! Can't wait to make this tonight!
Tawnie says
Love the Instant Pot so much this recipe was so flavorful and loved by the whole family! Thank you!
Priya says
I know right! So easy and simple
Priya says
Glad you like it. Let me know how it goes 🙂
Heidy says
This Jeera Rice came out perfect In The Instant Pot! I had no problem with the recipe and it was really delicious! I am so glad I decided to make this Jeera Rice. I took some in to the girls at work and they loved it too. Saving to make again.
Priya says
Glad you liked it so much. Thank you.
Erika says
This rice looks so delicious and flavorful! Basmati rice is my favorite.
Priya says
Same here. Thank you
Abi says
Looks so yummy! What main dish is best to pair this with? Would love to try this soon
Priya says
Thank you so much. I have mentioned it in the post.
Matt @ Plating Pixels says
This rice is so yummy! I have a combination of flavors and ingredients.
Priya says
Thank you so much
Kelli says
I love jeera rice, but had no idea how easy it is to make at home! I can't wait to try this recipe!
Priya says
Yes, its super easy..do give it a try. Thank you
Jessie says
This sounds amazing and simple! Looks like a trip to the City Market is in my future so that I can this this. I love rice side dishes.
Priya says
Do try it..its very flavorful! Thank you
Magali says
I love basmati rice. Anything that has coriander and cumin powder sounds delicious. I will try this recipe.
Priya says
Thank you so much. Let me know how it turns out for you. 🙂
Pris says
Hummm this looks too good! I think the cashews crunch together in the rice is a lovely addition of texture.
Priya says
Yes, cashews are a great addition here. Thank you
Danielle Wolter says
This is awesome! I can't believe you can make this in the instant pot. What a great recipe!
Priya says
Thank you so much
Bry says
What a fab recipe! I love all the spices - adds so much flavour!
Priya says
Totally! Thank you so much
Alexandra says
So simple to prepare and full of lovely flavour, this is a great side dish. Love the spices.
Priya says
Thank you so much
veenaazmanov says
Simple and easy to make and yet a flavorful rice dish. My kids love it and so make it too often for them. Instant Pot makes life so simple too.
Priya says
I so agree with you! Can't do without my Instant Pot now! Thank you.