Description

A hands-off Instant Pot method for making fluffy basmati rice, enhanced with a vibrant, zesty green herb paste for a flavorful side dish. Ideal for busy weeknights, this recipe guarantees perfectly separated grains.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups basmati rice, thoroughly rinsed and drained
2 cups water
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon neutral oil or vegetable ghee
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems, packed
½ cup fresh mint leaves, packed
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1–2 green chilies, stemmed and chopped (adjust to taste)
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons neutral oil or vegetable ghee

Instructions

Rinse Rice: Rinse the basmati rice in a fine-mesh sieve under cold running water until the water runs completely clear. Drain well to remove excess starch.
Set Up Instant Pot: Add the rinsed rice, water, salt, and 1 tablespoon of oil or ghee to the Instant Pot inner pot. Secure the lid, setting the venting knob to ‘Sealing’.
Pressure Cook Rice: Cook on High pressure for 4 minutes. Allow 10 minutes of Natural Pressure Release (NPR) once the timer completes, then carefully move the valve to ‘Venting’ to release remaining pressure.
Prepare Herb Paste: While the rice cooks, combine the cilantro, mint, ginger, green chilies, garlic, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of oil in a food processor. Blend until a smooth, vibrant green paste forms.
Fluff and Combine: Once pressure is fully released, open the lid and gently fluff the cooked rice with a fork. Add the herb paste and fold it through the rice to create streaks, rather than fully blending into a uniform color.
Serve: Scoop the rice into a serving bowl or platter and garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs if desired. Serve immediately as a flavorful side dish.

Notes

To achieve perfectly fluffy grains, a 1:1 rice-to-water ratio and thorough rinsing are crucial to prevent mushiness. The 10-minute natural pressure release step is essential for proper hydration. Adjust the spice level of the herb paste by removing the seeds from the green chilies. If foaming occurs during pressure cooking, add an extra tablespoon of oil.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Pressure Cooking
Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 260 kcal
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 100 mg
Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 48 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 4 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: instant pot, basmati rice, side dish, pressure cooker, easy recipe, herb rice, cilantro mint rice, vegetarian, healthy eating, weeknight meal