Indian Rice | Basmati Rice Pilau

This Basmati Rice Pilau is a great Indian rice side dish that's full of flavor! Thanks to your Instant Pot it's done in under 30 minutes!

What Makes This Basmati Rice Pilau So Brilliant

• Fast. Make perfectly seasoned rice in under 30 minutes with the help of your Instant Pot.
• Easy. Saute the onions, add the spices, rice, and water, and cook under high pressure. That's it.
• Authentic. The authentic spice combination will make you believe you're eating your favorite Indian takeout without even leaving your kitchen.

Indian Rice is a delicious Instant Pot weeknight dinner. Even though this is not low-carb, keto, or anything in between, I still love this recipe for Basmati Rice Pilau. As much as I love to eat low carb, sometimes NEED to have some rice as a side with the main course.

This is SO not low-carb. But I do eat a bit of rice with a meal from time to time, and if I'm going to eat it, it better be good rice. Sometimes I just steam it in my rice cooker with just ghee and salt and that's yummy too. If I want to do something a little more special, this is how I make it.

I made this in the Instant Pot on Rice setting (which counted down 12 mins at low pressure). This one had a chewier texture than when I made it in a rice cooker. The one advantage is that with the Instant Pot I can sauté the onions and cook in the same container rather than dirtying two containers.

How To Make It Using A Muslin Bag

Traditionally, I wouldn't use a muslin bag for the whole spices, but I was trained from a young age to eat around whole spices. Rather than risking yourself or a loved one biting directly into a peppercorn, I tried this with a muslin bag and it tasted just the same.

When it comes to the spices, I honestly sort of wing the proportions. Since they were in a bag, I smashed the bag with a heavy object, like the back of a knife, a few times to release some of the flavors.

I use cardamom pods, whole black peppercorns, whole cloves, and cinnamon chips. These are typical spices you will find in Indian cooking. Cardamom has a herbal and citrusy flavor. Whole peppercorns add an intensified peppery spice. Cloves add an Anise flavor while the cinnamon adds a warm profile. 

How To Make Indian Rice

1. Rinse. Rinse Basmati rice and let it drain in a strainer. 
2. Bag Spices. Place all the spices in a muslin bag and crush slightly to release the flavor. 
3. Melt. Heat the Instant Pot and add Ghee and melt. 
4. Add Cumin Seeds. When the Ghee sputters, add the cumin seeds. They will pop like popcorn. 
5. Saute. Add the thinly sliced red onions and begin to saute. Let the edges slightly crisped for flavor and caramelization. 
6. Add Rice. Add the rinsed Basmati rice to the Instant Pot and stir to coat every grain with Ghee.
7. Cook. Add water and the bag of spices and let it cook for 6 minutes at High Pressure. 
8. NPR. Let it Steam for 10 minutes after it's done. 
9. Eat. Remove the bag of spices, and add green peas if desired. Eat!

The Importance Of The Fried Onions

Frying those onions is very critical for this dish. They add a wonderful flavor to the rice, as well as provide it with a tinge of brown.

You'll notice my rice isn't pure white when it's finished, and that's because of the browning of the onions. I've included a picture below so you know what the onions should look like when they're ready to have the rice and water added. Notice lots of lovely ghee in there, yum!

This rice is perfect under any of the curries I've posted on this blog, and 1/4 of a cup of this rice usually satisfies me.

Can I Make It In A Rice Cooker?

You can make this in a rice cooker. It's simple enough, just turn it on and walk away.

If you don't have any kitchen gadgets, make this Basmati Rice Pilau recipe on the stovetop. Let the water come to a boil, and as soon as it does, add the rice, stir once, turn the heat to low, set your timer for 20 minutes, and DO NOT mess with it until it's done (or you'll break the rice).

Tips And Tricks

• Reduce the cinnamon. If you are sensitive to the cinnamon flavor, add fewer chips to get a hint of the aroma. 
• Make it with brown rice. If you want to make this with brown rice, add one cup of water. Set the Instant Pot to 22 minutes High Pressure, and 10 minutes Natural Pressure Release.

What To Serve With Indian Rice

This Basmati Rice Pilau is delicious served with just about any curry I've made a recipe for on the blog. Here are a few of my favorite things to enjoy with it:

• Instant Pot Butter Chicken
• Chicken Vindaloo
• Chicken Korma
• Lamb Rogan Josh
• Dal Makhani

How Long Does It Last?

For the best bite, I would suggest enjoying this Indian Rice within 3-4 days of preparing it if it is stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

For fast reheating, place a few tablespoons of water in the plastic container with the rice and microwave for 3-4 minutes or until the rice is warm and steamed.

Want More Instant Pot Rice Recipes?

• Chicken Biryani - Make an authentic biryani right in your pressure cooker.
• Instant Pot Dolma Recipe - A fantastic way to make dolma without having to wrap it.
• Indian Pilau - Peas and carrots with rice have never tasted so good!
• Kheema Pulao - A simple yet delicious Indian dish.
• Vegetarian Paneer Biryani - Enjoy all the flavors of a traditional biryani in this vegetarian dish.
• Instant Pot Sabzi Polo - Make a perfect Persian Herbed Rice in your pressure cooker.
• 6+ Best Healthy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipes - A fantastic collection of healthy chicken and rice recipes.
• 12+ Best Pressure Cooker Rice One Pot Meals - Here's a whole slew of recipes that use basmati rice for you to enjoy!

If you're looking for more delicious rice or grain recipes, check out my list of 49+ Instant Pot Rice and Grains Recipes!

Pin It!

If you're anything like me and just NEED some kind of rice as a side every now and then, do yourself a favor and make some of this delicious Indian Rice. Make sure to share this recipe with your friends on Pinterest and Facebook so they can enjoy it as well!