Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

Do I need a rice cooker to cook the perfect rice?

Although a rice cooker is an appliance you’ll almost always find in Asian households, you don’t necessarily need it to cook perfect rice. The instant pot has long been proven to cook rice just as efficiently as rice cookers do, with the added benefit of cooking faster.

Not to mention, while rice cookers are specifically just designed for cooking rice, instant pots are highly versatile cooking tools that can be used for cooking stews, pasta, meat, and plenty of one-pot meals on top of rice.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

With its zesty, aromatic, and teeming flavors, you’ll easily fall in love with this instant pot rice pilaf recipe. Be ready, though, as there are more reasons to love this easy side dish!

• It’s so easy to prepare. Thanks to the super simple and convenient instant pot, you only need to do a few steps, and your dish will be cooked in minutes.
• This easy recipe is always dependable. By using an instant pot that cooks uniformly every single time, you don’t ever need to worry about serving undercooked rice! 
• This recipe can be paired with almost anything. It’s an incredibly versatile side dish that pairs beautifully with a wide range of main courses, from grilled meats to seafood, making for a hearty and fulfilling meal.

If you love Instant Pot rice recipes that make for an easy dinner, you may want to try this Instant Pot Jambalaya the next time you’re having a meal.

🥘 Ingredients

Here are the necessary ingredients you need to prepare your very own rice pilaf in the instant pot.

• Parboiled rice: This star ingredient is known for being partially cooked before milling. You can pick any rice variant you prefer for this recipe.
• Cilantro: This famous herb delivers a burst of color and a fragrant aroma to the pilaf. 
• Limes: This kitchen staple will deliver a citrus burst to the pilaf, balancing the richness of the rice and enhancing the overall flavor profile. 
• Garlic powder: Garlic powder provides depth and a gentle savory note to the rice.

See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities.

🔀 Substitutions

Rice: If you don’t have long-grain white rice, you may use brown rice, basmati rice, or jasmine rice. Pick whatever suits your palate but be aware that they have varying cooking times.

Fresh Cilantro: If you prefer to cook rice pilaf with a milder herb flavor, switch out cilantro with parsley or basil.

Limes: If you’ve run out of limes, switch them out with lemons or key limes to add that citrus burst. Use a 1:1 amount when switching limes out since they have the same citrus flavor level.

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

Prepare your mouth for some indulgent variations of this pressure cooker rice pilaf recipe.

• Protein Packed: Switch out the water with chicken broth to make instant pot rice that’s meatier in flavor. You may also add cooked diced chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to ensure you get that daily dose of protein in this meal.
• Vegetable Variety: Turn the instant pot recipe into something more nutritious by adding in more veggies. Switch out the water with some vegetable broth, and add sauteed vegetables like carrots and peas into the rice before cooking.
• Spicy Kick: This easy and delicious twist adds a kick by just adding finely chopped jalapeños to the rice in the instant pot before cooking. The heat will complement the zesty lime and aromatic cilantro.

Do you love recipes that elevate plain white rice into something more healthy and enjoyable? Then, you definitely would like this Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

All of the equipment you need to cook the perfect rice pilaf are common cooking tools. Just bring these specific ones out so you can cook faster later.

• Measuring cups and spoons: Accurate measurements will ensure that you’ll get perfectly cooked rice every time without the dish being soggy or undercooked.
• Fork or spatula: A big fork or spatula is handy for stirring the ingredients in the instant pot. You’ll also need them to fluff the rice once it’s done cooking.
• Citrus juicer or reamer: This will come in handy when extracting the juice from the limes without wasting a drop.

🔪 How to Make Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

Although this recipe requires several steps, trust me, the pressure cooker will do the heavy cooking, and you’ll only need several minutes of direct participation.

Step 1: Prepare the cilantro

Fold 5-7 pieces of cilantro sprig into themselves to make a clump. Chop the stems and leaves together finely.

Step 2: Mix the ingredients

Gather all the remaining ingredients needed for instant pot rice pilaf. Add the rice, two lime wedges, two tablespoons of chopped cilantro, water, and spices into the pot. Stir them all together so the flavor is evenly distributed. 

Reminder: Parboiled rice needs a 1:1 water ratio.

Step 3: Pressure cook

Place the lid on the instant pot and seal the pressure valve. Cook the rice on high pressure for 12 minutes or use the rice setting. Once done, press the quick-release button.

Step 4: Add additional flavors

Remove the lid and add more lime juice. Fluff the rice to release the trapped heat and aroma inside.

Step 5: Don’t forget the final touches

Place the rice pilaf on your plate with lime wedges and garnish it with chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Instant Pot Rice Pilaf: