Pilaf rice, a recipe originating from Middle Eastern culture, simple to prepare and great for accompanying meat, fish, and vegetables. Therefore widespread throughout the Middle East, it is often used to accompany highly spiced dishes, such as curry chicken and tikka masala chicken.
The rice used for this recipe is Basmati rice. A particular type of rice grown in India, in the Himalayan region, characterized by a long and thin grain shape. The rice grains are cooked using a special technique called “pilaf”, which results in separate grains. A term borrowed from Middle Eastern and Central Asian cuisine, meaning “boiled rice”.
The traditional recipe involves cooking the rice in the oven in a covered pan, by adding a limited amount of broth, spices, and previously flavored with browning in butter and onion. The rice is rinsed before use to remove starch and then cooked in water or broth.
Today I am sharing my version cooked in a pressure cooker. A more practical and faster cooking method that allows the rice properties to remain unchanged. The only advice I leave for this cooking method is to respect the doses given in the recipe and the cooking times based on the type of pressure cooker you have.
If you want to increase or decrease the amount of rice, know that the water to rice ratio is 1:2: the water should be twice the weight of the rice. A very simple and quick recipe to prepare and that we liked very much. Now let’s go to the kitchen because the pressure cooker pilaf rice will be ready in a click!
If you are interested in other pressure cooker recipes, also read:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cooking methods: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 116.10 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 12.36 (g) of which sugars 0.07 (g)
- Proteins 1.36 (g)
- Fat 6.03 (g) of which saturated 3.40 (g)of which unsaturated 1.88 (g)
- Fibers 0.36 (g)
- Sodium 807.53 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 158 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Basmati rice
- 2 cups water (hot)
- 2 tbsps butter
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 1 star anise
- 4 cloves
Tools
- Pressure Cooker
- High Sided Casserole
- Fork
Steps
First, rinse the rice very well under cold water. Repeat this process several times to remove the starch and drain it. Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a saucepan. In the meantime, brown the butter in the pot, and when it melts, add the rice. Toast it for a few moments and add the hot water with the star anise, cloves, and salt.
Close the pot, bringing it to maximum power, and cook the rice for 4 minutes from the start of the whistle. Obviously, the cooking times are relative and you should refer to the type of pressure cooker you have.
After the cooking time, gradually release the steam and open the pot. Remove the star anise and cloves and fluff the rice with a fork.
The pressure cooker pilaf rice is ready! Serve it hot with your favorite Indian recipes.
Variations and Tips for Pressure Cooker Pilaf Rice
The pressure cooker pilaf rice should be consumed immediately, but if you prefer, you can let it cool and use it to prepare savory pies and vegetable fillings.
You can also flavor the rice with saffron or curry before cooking, adding the spices along with the hot water.
FAQ Questions and Answers for Pressure Cooker Pilaf Rice
Why should rice be rinsed before cooking?
Rinsing the rice serves to remove most of the starch in its composition. It’s the starch that causes the sticky texture of the rice grains. With rinsing, they can separate more easily from each other.
How many grams of rice are needed per person?
The ideal amount is about 70 g of rice per person.
How can I measure the amount of water or broth to use for cooking pilaf rice?
The water is twice the weight of the rice. So, if you need to increase or decrease the amount of rice, remember that the water to rice ratio is 1:2.
