It is no secret that simple whole grain recipes make the perfect side dish. I prefer cooking them in an electric pressure cooker as they cook faster with very little hands-on cooking time. I know you like it because my Instant Pot Quinoa, Instant Pot Jasmine Brown Rice, and Instant Pot Wild Rice are some of the most popular recipes on this site.
Today, we are adding one more recipe to the collection with this quick black rice in Instant Pot recipe. If you are like me, a fan of this ancient Chinese whole grain rice, you will be surprised to see how easy it is to cook it in an electric pressure cooker. Plus, compared to cooking black rice on the stove top or in the rice cooker, this method is hands-off and delivers perfect results every time.
Serve it as a side dish with chicken, beef, or vegetarian main dishes or turn it into a quick and flavorful salad using my Black Rice Salad recipe.
Why I Love This Recipe:
- No Need for Soaking the rice: If you have the ingredients on hand, you don’t have to plan ahead to make this tasty side.
- Consistent: Cooking forbidden rice in an instant pot delivers perfect results every time without any fuss, which is why it is my favorite method of cooking it.
- Hands Off: You won’t have to keep an eye on this black rice. The active cooking time is minimal, so you can make it and get back to your other dishes.
- Good for You: This gluten-free side has impressive health benefits like high levels of protein and dietary fiber content with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients:
This Instant Pot black rice recipe technically requires only two ingredients: black rice and water. It is optional, but you can also use a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil (such as olive oil, avocado oil, or ghee) for flavor.
In terms of the cooking liquid, you can swap water with vegetable broth or homemade chicken stock for more flavor.
What Brand Black Rice Should I buy?
When shopping for black rice (aka Chinese Forbidden Rice), you might find some other varieties like Black Sticky Rice (aka black glutinous rice or Thai black rice) or Black Japonica Rice.
I tested this recipe with Nature’s Earthly Choice (affiliate link), Lotus Foods (affiliate link) brands of Chinese black rice, and Rice King Black Sticky Rice. All of them delivered great results.
Check out my Forbidden Rice recipe post to learn more about the types of black rice.
Forbidden Rice to Water Ratio For Cooking In Instant Pot
The ratio for Instant Pot forbidden rice to water is easy to remember: one cup of black rice will require one cup of water (or chicken stock or vegetable broth).
How much water you use depends on how much rice you would like to make. To double it, use two cups of black rice with two cups of water.
How to Make Black Rice in Instant Pot?
- Rinse Forbidden Rice: Start by rinsing the rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until water runs clear.
- Place Black Rice in Instant Pot: Transfer the black rice to the Instant Pot, and pour in the liquid and a pinch of salt, if using.
- Secure the lid: Once you secure the lid, move the steam release valve to the sealing position.
- Select Manual/Pressure Cook: It typically takes about 5-7 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. Press the pressure cook button to cook on high pressure for 17 minutes if you are cooking Chinese black rice and 20 minutes if you are cooking Black Glutinous Rice.
- Use the Natural Pressure Release: When the cooking cycle is complete, use the Instant Pot natural release setting for 8-10 minutes, then move the steam release valve to the venting position to release any remaining pressure. You don’t need to use the quick release for this recipe.
- Serve: Carefully open the lid, fluff rice with a fork, and serve. Or use it in one of the other black rice recipes.
How to Store and Reheat?
- Storage: You can store leftover rice for up to three days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Reheating: Reheating black rice is simple. You can put it in a bowl in the microwave or heat it gently in a saucepan on the stovetop. You may have to add in a few tablespoons of water if it is too dry.
Expert Tips and Variations:
- Add Flavor: Instead of water, you could use chicken stock or vegetable broth (or you can even make vegetable stock from scraps and use it in this recipe) to give it a savory boost.
- Double It: Serving a crowd? This black rice recipe doubles easily.
How to Serve?
This dish is so versatile that you can pair it with nearly anything. It can effortlessly become a side dish, part of a main, or even a dessert.
- Put It in a Grain Bowl: Black rice is the perfect component to give a salad bowl a little heft and a distinctive nutty flavor. Forbidden rice is a delicious accompaniment to the Seared Tuna Salad Bowl and is filling enough for dinner.
- Make It a Meatless Meal: Serve the forbidden rice with vegetables like Roasted Whole Carrots, Roasted Asparagus, or Roasted Delicata Squash.
- Serve In a Salad: Black rice adds gorgeous dark purple color, texture, and taste to a salad. This Black Rice Salad is a delicious variation.
- Use It as a Side: Black rice is the perfect complement to chicken, beef, or vegetarian dishes.
- Turn It Into Dessert: Black rice doesn’t have to be savory. Try making a black rice pudding recipe (made with coconut milk) for dessert.
FAQs:
The active cooking time will depend on which type of black rice you use. Chinese black rice/Forbidden rice in Instant Pot will take about 17 minutes of pressure cook time. Black glutinous rice will be about 20 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot.
However, keep in mind that it typically takes 5-7 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure first. Then you will cook the rice as listed above (from 17-20 minutes). After, it takes about 10 minutes for the pressure to release. So, most black rice dishes come together in an Instant Pot in about 30 minutes total.
One cup of uncooked black rice typically yields three cups after cooking.
Uncooked black rice is shelf-stable, which is another reason it makes for a great last-minute side dish. Uncooked black rice will stay fresh in a dark and dry pantry for up to two years.
After you’ve cooked the black rice, put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and it will last up to three days.
No need to use olive oil or butter is necessary, it won’t stick which makes this a healthy, low-calorie recipe.
Yes, black rice (or even the black glutinous rice) is gluten-free making it great side dish for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
Instant Pot Black Rice Recipe (Pressure Cooker Method)
Ingredients
- 1 cup black rice, aka forbidden rice
- 1 cup water, chicken stock or vegetable broth
- Pinch of salt, optional
Instructions
- Rinse forbidden rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until water runs clear.
- Transfer it to the Instant pot, pour in the liquid, and a pinch of salt, if using.
- Secure the lid. Move the steam release valve to Sealing position.
- Select Manual/Pressure Cook to cook on high pressure for 17 minutes.
- When the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure naturally release for 8-10 minutes, then move the steam release valve to Venting position to release any remaining pressure.
- Carefully open the lid. Fluff it with a fork and serve.
Notes
- The nutritional values below are for 1 cup cooked black rice.
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The active cooking time will vary based on the type of wild rice you are cooking. If you are using:
- Chinese black rice/Forbidden rice: It will take about 17 minutes cook time.
- Black glutinous rice in pressure cooker: It will take about 20 minutes.
- Black Japonica rice in Instant Pot or pressure cooker: It will take about 20 minutes.
However, keep in mind that it typically takes 5-7 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure first. Then you will cook the rice as listed above (from 17-20 minutes). After, it takes about 10 minutes for the pressure to release. So, most black rice dishes come together in an Instant Pot in about 30-33 minutes total.
- Storage: You can store leftover rice for up to three days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Reheating: Reheating black rice is simple. You can put it in a bowl in the microwave or heat it gently in a saucepan on the stovetop. You may have to add in a few tablespoons of water if it is too dry.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
