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 just love having rice as my staple food in our weekly meals. I am on the constant lookout for healthier versions of rice. That is when I came across this wild rice. It gives me the same satisfaction of having rice but in a nutritious way.
Wild rice is actually healthier than both white and brown rice. It is filled with protein and has high-dietary fiber as well. 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.
What is Wild Rice?
The funny part is that wild rice is not actually rice. It is 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 healthier 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 the normal rice variety and is gluten-free.
Apart from being very healthy, this Instant Pot wild rice has roasted nutty and earthy flavor that is hard to miss. It can be compared to quinoa 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 a great choice for making pilafs, grain salads or you can add them in 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 a wonderful chewy taste such as this mushroom wild rice soup.
- Add it to vegan or meat burger patties
- As it can be used just like rice, make salads, casseroles or stews.
Why use a Pressure Cooker to make Wild Rice?
While you can cook wild rice in an open pot, it requires quite a lot of effort and time. However, when cooked in the instant pot, you get no-fail wild rice every single time. It is because 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 it 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.
- 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 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. Fluff the wild rice with a fork gently.
- 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. Before storing, get the rice to room temperature and store 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 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 others types of rice/grains in the instant pot, check out the recipes below:
Check out this collection of 23+ instant pot rice recipes.
Instant Pot Wild rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Wild rice
- 2 cup Water or Broth
Instructions
- Take one cup of wild rice and rinse it well with water. Then add it to the instant pot steel insert.
- Add 2 cups of water or broth for cooking the rice.
- Set the Instant pot to presure cook (manual) mode at high pressure for 30 minutes.
- When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally and then open the lid.
- Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Wild rice is ready to be enjoyed.
Notes
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
I've been eating real Minnesota wild rice all my life and I know how it's supposed to be once cooked, and this method rendered absolutely perfect rice -- slightly blossomed, slightly chewy, but not undercooked. The only slight change I made is to add about a cup more water to mimic the stove top method my great grandma, grandma, and mom have been using all their lives; you always have to drain wild rice when it's cooked, in my experience. Just made my wild rice casserole (celery, onion, and mushrooms sautéed in a good amount of butter, add cooked wild rice and slivered almonds and whole sweetened cranberries if you like and pop in the oven at 350 for half an hour, covered) and it is delicious. Thank you!
Oops, I meant I added about half a cup more water, so I did 1-1/2 cups of rice to 3-1/2 cups water.
Hi Deanna - So good to hear that. Thank you for sharing your experience. The casserole sounds absolutely delicious. 🙂