Instant Pot Wild Rice

It is quick and easy to cook nutritious wild rice in the Instant pot. These Instant Pot Wild Rice have a sweet aroma with a nutty flavor and a chewy texture.

Being an Indian, I love having rice as my staple food in our weekly meals. I am on the constant lookout for more nutritious versions of rice. That is when I came across this wild rice. It gives me the same satisfaction as having rice, and I love the earthy taste.

Wild rice is more nutritious than both white and brown rice. It is filled with protein and has high dietary fiber. It is also gluten-free, making it a perfect choice for your gluten-free diet.

The only downside to this great ingredient is that it takes a long time to cook. Do not worry if you have the Instant Pot. As the Instant Pot cooks wild rice under high pressure, it cuts that cooking time by half.

If you like wild rice and mushrooms, you will love this Creamy Mushroom Wild Rice Soup.

Watch How to Make Instant Pot Wild Rice

What is Wild Rice?

The funny part is that wild rice is not actually rice. It is an aquatic grass that looks and cooks like rice. It is an edible grain found mainly in North America, India, and China. It is usually harvested only in North America.

Most nutritionists say that it is wholesome and has more dietary fiber than other kinds of rice. It is protein-rich, with vitamin B, minerals, and is low in fat. Wild rice has 30 times more antioxidants than regular rice and is gluten-free.

Apart from being very wholesome, this Instant Pot wild rice has a roasted, nutty, and earthy flavor that is hard to miss. It can be compared to quinoa, buckwheat, sorghum, and amaranth, which are actually seeds, not grains.

How to use Wild Rice?

Wild rice has a distinctive taste that is quite hard to miss. It is an excellent choice for making pilafs, grain salads, or adding them to soups, stuffing, or casseroles.

Here are some ways wild rice can be used:

• Switch to wild rice when making a pilaf or stir fry.
• Add wild rice to your soup for an excellent chewy taste, such as this mushroom wild rice soup.
• Add it to vegan or meat burger patties.
• It can be used just like rice, in wild rice salad, casseroles, or stews.

Why use a Pressure Cooker to make Wild Rice?

While you can cook wild rice in an open pot, it requires considerable effort and time. However, when cooked in the Instant Pot, you get no-fail wild rice every single time. It is because the Instant Pot uses the magic of pressure to churn out perfect wild rice.

How to Make Wild Rice in Instant Pot?

When you are cooking wild rice in the Instant Pot, there is no need for soaking. If you are cooking on the stovetop, you can soak to reduce the cooking time.

In case you are wondering where you can get wild rice, worry not. You can pick up the rice section of any grocery store, or you can get it on Amazon.

Also, there are different kinds of wild rice blends; however, this recipe works well with long-grain wild rice. It is not for quick-cook wild rice or a different wild rice blend. Here is the recipe for wild rice blend in the Instant Pot.

• Take one cup of wild rice and rinse it well under water before adding it to the Instant Pot steel insert.
• Add 2 cups of water (or vegetable or chicken broth) for cooking the rice.
• Optionally, add a tablespoon of ghee or oil to the pot. You can also add some salt to it according to your taste.
• Set the Instant Pot to manual or pressure cook mode. Secure the lid and set to cook in high pressure for 30 minutes.
• Let the pressure release naturally and then open the lid. Gently fluff the wild rice with a fork.
• Your wild rice is ready to be enjoyed.

How to Store Wild Rice?

Instant pot wild rice can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days after cooking in an airtight container. Before storing, get the rice to room temperature and store it in an air-tight container.

Also, you can freeze this cooked wild rice and use it in batches. Even for storing in the freezer, the rice has to be at room temperature. Store in separate containers if you are going to freeze the wild rice.

They can be stored for up to 6 months. For thawing, place the required amount in the refrigerator overnight to thaw and then use it.

Make this delicious and nutritious wild rice in half the cooking time in your instant pot, and enjoy it in soups, stews, casseroles, or salads in place of other grains.

If you are looking to cook other types of rice/grains in the Instant Pot, check out the recipes below. Check out this collection of 23+ instant pot rice recipes.

• Basmati Rice
• Jasmine Rice
• Sona Masoori Rice
• Quinoa