Instant pot coconut rice recipe! Creamy, fluffy, and delicious rice cooked to perfection with separate grains. This recipe only calls for 4 ingredients and it is ready under 15 minutes.
Coconut rice is a great way to switch up your everyday rice, a quick weeknight dinner and also perfect for meal prep.
A great accompaniment with curries, stir-fries or stews. Let me show you how to make this easy coconut rice that is fluffy and with separate grains. Serve with this instant pot black eyed peas or sauteed peppers and onions.
Why This Instant Pot Coconut Rice Recipe Works
- You should know that this recipe can be made on the stovetop as well as in a rice cooker. Thanks to technology, you can’t argue how convenient and easy this rice comes together in an instant pot (electric pressure cooker) Perfect rice all the time.
- I love the flavor of the coconut, it is subtle yet delicious.
- It is naturally gluten-free and you can use any rice of choice. For this recipe, I used golden Sella basmati rice but you may also use long-grain white rice Jasmine rice, or brown rice.
- It is a perfect side dish and you can pair it with anything, curries, stir-fries, stews and sauces.
- This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients.
- You can use the pot-in-pot (PIP) method to make this rice in your instant pot and of course, one of the easiest dishes you can make in your instant pot (electric pressure cooker) is rice.
Ingredients To Make Easy This Instant Pot Rice
Basmati rice: substitute with Jasmine rice or long grain rice. They cook the same just like the golden Sella basmati rice I used.
Unsweetened light coconut milk: note that coconut milk is different from coconut water. Swap light coconut milk for full-fat if you prefer.
Salt
Water: For this recipe, I used a water ratio of 1.5 cups to 1 cup of rice (basmati rice, Jasmine and long grain rice.)
Onions: I used shallot for its mellow flavor. When I make coconut rice, I try as much as possible not to overpower the coconut aroma with other flavors. You can’t miss the coconutty flavor when done this way. If you would be using onions, use white onions and a little goes a long way.
Olive oil, substitute with coconut oil or any other oil of choice
Some other recipes call for sugar but trust me you do not need it in this recipe. Coconut rice is sweet enough.
How To Make Instant Pot Coconut Rice
First, you need to rinse the rice in warm water until the water runs clear.
Then Sauté the chopped onions in olive oil until soft, stir continuously so it doesn’t burn. Use the sauté button (normal) on your instant pot for this or the browning function if using pressure king pro. Add the washed rice and stir in the sautéed onions and stir continuously for another 30 seconds.
Turn off the sauté button then cover the rice with coconut milk and water, add salt then mix to combine. Ensure the rice is not sticking to the bottom of the pan before covering.
Cover the instant pot with its lid and turn the valve to the sealed position. Set the timer and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Once it is finished cooking and it's timed down, let the pressure naturally release for another 5 minutes then do a quick release.
Open the lid then fluff the rice with a fork. Serve with any other side of your choice.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Coconut Rice
How to store
This rice will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Make sure that it is completely cooled before storing away.
You can reheat cooked rice on the stovetop over medium-high heat or in the microwave until piping hot.
Tips
- Open your canned coconut milk from the bottom especially if you are using full-fat coconut milk. By so doing, you’ll be able to get the right amount without any mess. The cream settles at the top of the can and the water in the bottom. I find it less fiddly doing it this way.
- Use half and half water and coconut milk, this way you are guaranteed less sticky and separate grains of rice. That said, if you want sticky coconut rice then by all means use all coconut milk and a little water.
- Rinse the rice until the water runs clean, again, no stick rice and less starch.
- All long white grain rice such as basmati (golden sella), long grain or jasmice rice would work best with this recipe.
- Unsweetened coconut milk should not be mistaken for coconut water, they are not the same.
- Substitute water for vegetable stock or chicken stock.
More instant pot (pressure cooker) recipes you'll love
Pressure cooker rice and chicken
Instant pot chicken thighs and rice
Instant pot lemon herb chicken thighs
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And there you have it, a simple and delicious instant pot rice recipe you can make at home in 20 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
Instant Pot Coconut Rice
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked basmati rice Jasmine rice and long grain rice works too
- 1 can unsweetened full fat coconut milk about 1½ cups
- 1 teaspoon salt or as needed
- 1½ cups water
- 1 small shallot chopped about 2 tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon olive oil substitute with coconut oil or any other oil of choice
- ½ tablespoon sugar optional not used for this recipe
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in warm water until water runs clear.
- Using the sauté button (normal) on your instant pot (or browning function if using pressure king pro). Add olive oil and heat until hot.Then Sauté the chopped shallots in olive oil until soft, transluscent and fragrant, stir continuously so it doesn’t burn.
- Add the washed rice to the pot and stir continuously for another 30 seconds.
- Turn off the sauté button then cover the rice with coconut milk and water (3 cups in total), add salt to taste then mix to combine.Ensure the rice is not sticking to the bottom of the pan before covering.
- Cover the instant pot with its lid and turn the valve to the sealed position. Set the timer and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Once it is finished cooking and it's timed down, let it natural pressure release for 5 minutes then do a quick release.
- Open the lid then fluff the rice with a fork. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Open your canned coconut milk from the bottom especially if you are using full fat coconut milk. By so doing, you’ll be able to get the right amount without any mess. The cream settles at the top of the can and the water in the bottom. I find it less fiddly doing it this way.
- Use half and half water and coconut milk, this way you are guaranteed less sticky and separate grains of rice
- Rinse the rice until the water runs clean, again, no stick rice and less starch.
- Unsweetened coconut milk should not be mistaken for coconut water, they are not the same.
- Substitute water for vegetable stock or chicken stock.
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
The recipe is still the same, but new pictures have been added and some upkeep has been done since it was first posted on December 2, 2019.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE RATE IT AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. USE #THEDINNERBITE OR TAG @THEDINNERBITE ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE YOUR PHOTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. THANK YOU!
Fad says
Well detailed steps, will definitely try it.