Name: Jeera Rice / Cumin Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 1 cup Basmati rice (: rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes) (Source: 1 cup Basmati rice (: rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes)); ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (Source: ½ teaspoon cumin seeds); ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste) (Source: ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)); 1 teaspoon ghee (or oil) (Source: 1 teaspoon ghee (or oil)); 1¼ cup water (Source: 1¼ cup water)

Get to know the ingredients

Basmati rice (: rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes)

In the method: Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times and soak for 20 minutes.

cumin seeds

In the method: When the display reads 'hot' add ghee and cumin seeds.

salt (or to taste)

In the method: Add salt and water and stir.

Let’s make it

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Servings

Original recipe: Serves 3. Original quantities shown.

Estimating…

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1 cup Basmati rice (: rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes)
Ingredient note
Source: 1 cup Basmati rice (: rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes)
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
Ingredient note
Source: ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Ingredient note
Source: ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1 teaspoon ghee (or oil)
Ingredient note
Source: 1 teaspoon ghee (or oil)
1¼ cup water
Ingredient note
Source: 1¼ cup water

How to make it

0 of 6 steps complete

Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times and soak for 20 minutes. Strain the soaked basmati rice in a sieve to get all the water out.
Turn on instant pot on Sauté mode. When the display reads 'hot' add ghee and cumin seeds.
When the cumin seeds begin to sizzle (a few seconds), add rice and sauté another 30 seconds.
Add salt and water and stir. Close the lid. Set the valve to 'sealing' position. Press Manual (high) for 6 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 mins, then manually release the pressure.
Open the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Cumin rice is best served warm with lentils soups, curries or any grilled entrée.
Alternatively, you could make this a dump and start recipe. Simply add everything in the Instant Pot, close the lid and follow the same cook time. It will have a milder cumin flavor.

Make room for Jeera Rice / Cumin Rice

Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.

The last little job

Finish as directed

It will have a milder cumin flavor.

A few questions you might have

What should I prepare first?

Set out the instant pot. Start with this step: Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times and soak for 20 minutes.

Which preparation step should I plan for?

Complete the pressure-release sequence before opening the cooker.

What happens at the end?

It will have a milder cumin flavor.

How do I plan the ingredient amounts?

This version serves 3. Use the ingredient amounts listed for that yield. If you change the number of portions, check equipment and the full method as well as the shopping quantities.

Additional recipe notes

Soaking: I highly recommend soaking the rice for 15 mins. It gets rid of the excess starch and makes them more fluffy after cooking. Customize Your Instant Pot Rice to Taste : For rice with a little bite , follow the 1:1 ratio, and if you like it softer , add 1 ¼ cup water for 1 cup of rice. Use the 'Rice' Setting: You can follow this recipe and cook it using the Rice setting too, which defaults to 12 minutes at low pressure. I have cooked it both ways and have found the result to be the same. NPR vs. QR for Rice : As a general rule of thumb, if I have the time, I let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, unless I'm cooking rice with chicken, meat or veggies. That results in fluffy and softer rice. Vegan Rice: To make Vegan Jeera rice, simply substitute ghee with olive, avocado or any neutral oil. Vegetable Pulao Variation: Add ½ cup assorted frozen vegetables to this recipe and make a Vegetable Pilaf. This recipe has been tested in a 3qt and 6qt Instant Pot. If making this in an 8Qt size, adjust the quantity to meet the minimum liquid requirement. For a smaller portion, I recommend pot-in-pot cooking. Get the recipe here . Note: The nutrition facts below are my estimates. If you are following any diet plan, I recommend cross-checking with your preferred nutrition calculator.

Jeera Rice / Cumin Rice

1. Follow the pressure release