Get ready to elevate your meal game with our easy Instant Pot Spanish Rice recipe! No more bland sides; we're turning up the heat with vibrant flavors, perfectly cooked rice, and a hint of spice that dances on your taste buds.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Effortless Flavor Fusion: Achieve authentic Spanish rice with minimal effort and maximum taste in your Instant Pot.
- One-Pot Wonder: Simplify dinner with this fuss-free recipe that cooks flavorful Spanish rice all in one pot.
- Time-Saving Simplicity: Embrace the convenience of Instant Pot cooking—savory Spanish rice ready in a fraction of time.
📋 Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this Spanish Rice Instant Pot recipe:
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the onion and garlic, it adds a subtle richness to the dish.
- Chopped Yellow or White Onion: Adds a savory depth of flavor and sweetness when cooked, creating a solid base for the rice.
- Long-Grain White Rice: The main ingredient in this dish, it absorbs all the flavors while retaining a fluffy texture.
- Cloves Fresh Garlic: Brings a robust, aromatic flavor that infuses the whole dish, enhancing the savory elements.
- Minced Tomatoes: Adds a fresh, tangy taste that balances out the savory flavors.
- Chicken Stock or Low Sodium Chicken Broth: Provides the liquid for the rice to cook in, imparting a savory flavor. Can be substituted with vegetable broth for a vegetarian option.
- Cumin: Gives the rice a warm, earthy note that's integral to the Spanish flavor profile.
- Chili Powder: Optional ingredient for those who like a bit of heat in their dishes.
- Chopped Fresh Cilantro: Adds a fresh, herbaceous finish to the dish, brightening up the flavors.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Rice & Grain Alternatives: Experiment with different rice varieties such as long-grain white rice for a light texture, or try brown rice for a nuttier flavor and extra fiber. You can also blend in quinoa for a protein boost.
- Liquid & Broth Enhancements: Replace water with chicken or vegetable broth for deeper flavor. Enhance the tomato base by adding a mix of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes to create a rich, savory liquid that infuses the rice.
- Vegetable & Spice Adjustments: Boost your Spanish rice with sautéed onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Customize the spice profile by incorporating cumin, smoked paprika, or a pinch of saffron, and finish with a squeeze of lime or chopped fresh cilantro for brightness.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Spanish Rice
Step One: Turn the Instant Pot to Saute Mode. Once the pot gets hot, add a neutral cooking oil such as olive oil and place the diced onions into the inner pot. Cook the onions for about 4 minutes until they become soft.
Step Two: Add in the garlic and cook with the onions in the pot for about 2 minutes.
Step Three: Rinse the rice. Then add the white rice and mix well to incorporate the onion and garlic into each grain. Allow the rice to brown for about 5 minutes.
Step Four: Add the stock, diced tomatoes, cumin, and chili powder to the Instant Pot. Stir well. Scrape the bottom of the pot to remove any food that has stuck to the bottom of the pot and press the cancel button.
Step Five: Close the Instant Pot by twisting the lid. Close the valve and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Next, release the pressure manually. Stir and fluff the rice.
Step Six: Plate your Spanish rice in a single dish or a bowl alongside your favorite Mexican-inspired meals. Making Spanish rice has never been easier! Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.
Hint: Be sure to do a quick release as a natural release will overcook the rice and make it mushy.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sauté Aromatics and Rice: Start by using the sauté function to cook onions, garlic, and bell peppers until they are soft. This helps develop the flavor base. Then, add the rice to the pot and sauté it for a few minutes until it's lightly toasted. Toasting the rice gives it a nuttier flavor and helps it absorb the cooking liquids better.
- Use the Right Liquid: Instead of water, use chicken or vegetable broth for cooking the rice to add more depth to the flavor. You can also add a splash of tomato sauce or diced tomatoes during this step, along with traditional seasonings like cumin, paprika, and a touch of chili powder.
- Correct Rice to Liquid Ratio: For fluffy and not mushy rice, use a ratio of 1 part rice to 1.5 parts liquid. This is slightly less than you might use on a stovetop because the Instant Pot's sealed environment retains more moisture.
- Natural Release Method: After the cooking process is complete, let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for about 10 minutes. This allows the rice to settle and finish cooking without becoming overcooked or sticky. After 10 minutes, you can release any remaining pressure before opening the lid.
- Rest Before Serving: Give the rice a gentle fluff with a fork, then let it sit for a few minutes with the lid off. This step helps any excess steam escape, preventing the rice from becoming soggy.
💭 FAQs
Spanish rice is a flavorful side dish that’s savory with hints of tomato and garlic. The rice is cooked in a spicy broth made from a combination of tomato sauce or tomatoes with seasonings.
Spanish rice was first brought to Mexico by the Spaniards after their trip to Asia where they discovered rice.
Since then, the dish has been adapted to Mexican cuisine by adding ingredients like tomatoes and spices. Spanish rice is also known as Mexican rice and Arroz rojo.
The best rice to use for this recipe is long-grain rice. The long grains of the rice gives more surface area, allowing it to stay fluffy and separate instead of getting stuck together.
You can use long-grain white rice or long-grain brown rice. If using brown rice add a further 2 minutes to the pressure cooking time.
No, this recipe can use either regular chicken broth or low-sodium chicken broth, vegetable broth, or chicken stock. Use the liquid that you prefer for this Mexican rice dish cuisine.
Yes. You sure can add vegetables. Try adding some frozen peas once the dish has cooked or pop in some diced carrots, diced peppers or fresh corn.
Yes. You can use jarred tomato sauce in this recipe. Use half a cup of tomato sauce in place of the diced tomatoes and cumin.
Mexican rice is best eaten straight away, after cooking. Allow the rice to cool for 20 minutes before storing any remaining food. You can store Mexican rice for 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Allow the cooked rice to cool completely before transferring it into a freezer-safe container or bag.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite side dishes to serve with Spanish Rice:
This Instant Pot Spanish rice recipe is so versatile. It can be served on its own, with some spiced chicken or Spanish meatballs or Fish Tacos!
Instant Pot Spanish rice is the perfect side dish to serve with Street Tacos or Quesadillas. It is also delicious with Refried Beans and Enchiladas and works well with any Mexican meal.
If looking for a drink why not try this Strawberry Sangria!
🍜 Related Recipes
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Easy Instant Pot Spanish Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup yellow or white onion chopped or finely diced
- 2 cups long grain rice
- 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
- ¾ cup minced tomatoes
- 2 ½ cups chicken stock
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder optional
- ⅛ cup cilantro Finely chopped
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot to Saute Mode. Once the Pot gets hot, add the oil, and onions. Cook the onions about 4 minutes until they become soft.
- Add in the garlic and cook with the onions in the pot for about 2 mintutes.
- Add in the rice and mix well to incorporate the onion and garlic to each grain. Allow the rice to brown for about 5 minutes.
- Add the stock, diced tomatoes, cumin, and chili powder to the Instant Pot. Stir well. Scrape the bottom of the pot to remove any food that has stuck to the bottom of the pot. Press the cancel button.
- Close the Instant Pot by twisting on the lid. Close the valve, and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 8 minutes.
- After it has cooked for 8 minutes, release pressure manually.
- Stir and fluff the rice. Plate on a dish or in a bowl alongside your favorite dish, or by itself. Garnish with cilantro.
Notes
You can store frozen Spanish Rice for up to 3 months in the freezer. Reheat: When you are ready to serve, allow the Mexican rice to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You can also reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until the rice is warm. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Need More Mexican Instant Pot Recipes?
If you're looking for other delicious and easy Instant Pot recipes with a Mexican twist, here are a few ideas:
- Instant Pot Black Beans
- Instant Pot Enchilada Casserole
- Instant Pot Beef Fajitas
- Instant Pot Carnitas Bowl
- Instant Pot Mexican Beef Stew
- Mexican Street Corn Soup
- Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef
- Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo
Looks great and really easy. No way to print, so won't be using this one. Not even a way to copy and paste. Need to improve this type of feature.
Hi Diane the recipe card can be printed at the bottom of the page.
Angela Milnes