Instant Pot Black Rice (aka Forbidden Rice)
Posted: 01/21/25
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Nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich black rice cooked quickly and effortlessly in the Instant Pot! This simple no-soak recipe for pressure cooker black rice will be your new go-to method for cooking this legendary whole grain.
What We Love About This Recipe
- It’s totally foolproof! The Instant Pot takes all the guesswork out of cooking black rice. Just rinse it, toss it in the pressure cooker with some water, seal the lid, and let the appliance work its magic!
- Black rice is super nutritious! So much so that it’s been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Black rice is high in protein and fiber, and its unique dark purple color comes from the anthocyanin it contains. Anthocyanins are natural antioxidants that can promote heart health and support memory function and mental focus. Aside from anthocyanin, though, black rice also contains 23+ “plant compounds with antioxidant properties“.
Why is Black Rice Called “Forbidden Rice’?
Lore says that black rice was once forbidden to be eaten by anyone but ancient Chinese royalty. Not only was it incredibly rare thanks to its low crop production, it was also thought to contribute to longevity and good health – both incredibly attractive to the aristocracy. As a result, the rice was deemed “off limits” to the majority of people.
Chef’s Tips
- You’re welcome to add salt or any of your favorite spices to this Instant Pot black rice if you’d like! Swapping out the water for chicken or vegetable broth is another great way to impart more flavor, too. For even more nutritious benefits, try making it with bone broth instead of regular broth.
- The rich, dark color of black rice can be prone to staining, so be careful around any fabrics or dishware you’d be upset to discolor.
- Don’t forget to fluff cooked rice before serving. Fluffing the rice separates the grains, keeping them from clumping together as they cool.
More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
- Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash
- Instant Pot Bacon
- Beer-Infused Instant Pot Brats
- Instant Pot Cornbread
- Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
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Instant Pot Black Rice (aka Forbidden Rice)
This easy recipe for tender black rice only requires 2 ingredients, 30 minutes, and minimal effort.
servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked black rice
- 1 cup cold water or 1 cup broth of choice
Equipment
- fine mesh sieve
- running water
- 6-quart Instant Pot or similar pressure cooker
- large wooden spoon
- Fork
Instructions
- Add 1 cup uncooked black rice to fine mesh sieve. Rinse rice under running water until water runs clear. Drain excess water from rice, then transfer rice to Instant Pot.
- Add 1 cup cold water to Instant Pot and stir to incorporate. Secure lid on Instant Pot with vent in Sealing position.
- Set Instant Pot mode to Manual High Pressure and set cook time to 20 minutes. Instant Pot will pressurize and then 20-minute cook time will begin.
- When 20-minute cook time ends, Natural Release internal pressure for 10 minutes. Use caution as any escaping steam will be very hot.
- After 10 minutes, carefully Quick Release any remaining pressure and remove lid from Instant Pot.
- Fluff cooked rice with fork. Divide cooked rice into preferred portions and serve as desired.
Notes
- Yield: 1 cup of uncooked black rice yields approximately 3 cups of cooked black rice.
- Staining: Black rice can sometimes stain fabric or dishes. Keep that in mind when plating the rice or storing leftovers.
- Refrigerator Storage: Let fully-cooked black rice cool completely. Transfer rice to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 0.5 cup | Calories: 114kcal | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Total Carbs: 24g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Net Carbs: 23g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 69mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.5mg
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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