Quick Pilau Rice in the Instant Pot®

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ¼ cup diced red onion
• ¾ tablespoon garam masala
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup uncooked basmati rice, rinsed and drained
• ½ cup frozen peas and carrots
• 1 bay leaf

Step 1

Turn on your Instant Pot and setting it to the sauté mode. Pour in a bit of oil and toss in the cumin seeds, stirring them just until they start to pop. Add the chopped onion and cook for a couple of minutes until it softens. Sprinkle in the garam masala, turmeric, and a pinch of salt, giving everything a good stir.

Step 2

Pour in the vegetable broth, then add the rice, frozen peas and carrots, and a bay leaf. Mix everything together so the spices and veggies are evenly distributed. Seal the lid and set the pot to cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. It might take around 10 to 15 minutes for the pressure to build up before the timer starts.

Step 3

Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally—this can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes. If there’s any pressure left after that, go ahead and release it manually. Carefully open the lid, fish out the bay leaf, and give the rice a taste. Adjust the seasoning if needed, then it’s ready to serve!