Any recipe that includes rice as the main ingredient is going to be the much healthier option, especially compared to ones that include pasta or other grainy foods. Rice is low in fiber, but its other nutrients vary depending upon the type of rice. The best kinds to eat are brown rice or wild rice. They can even aid in weight loss because rice makes you feel fuller faster, which prevents you from overeating. Many people who are bodybuilders or personal trainers stick to diets based around rice as the staple carbohydrate source in most meals.
Usually, you would cook rice in a rice cooker, but most people aren’t aware that it’s much easier to cook it using a pressure cooker. It is not only easier; it takes less time and is considered the healthier cooking method by a long shot. If only more people knew how much time they could be saving.
The Health Benefits of Pressure Cooking
It is always better and healthier to cook your rice in a pressure cooker rather than a traditional rice cooker. It takes almost half the amount of time, and your rice will come out tasting softer and fluffier. There is a whole science behind how pressure cooking literally changes the physical structure of rice in a way that helps your body digest it easier. Instant Pot (a lead selling pressure cooker brand) has a great article on their website that further explains the exact science. It is truly interesting how a pressure cooker does this. There’s so much to gain from pressure cooking.
Rice cookers usually have an outlet for a small amount of steam to be released as the rice cooks. If too much steam were to get out, the rice wouldn’t cook properly. Pressure cookers have a more secure system, which releases absolutely no steam or pressure. Locking lids and pressure regulators help to ensure this. The cooking time is practically cut in half in a pressure cooker.
Since the steam is 100% contained inside the cooker, foods like rice, vegetables, and meats don’t lose any of their vitamins or nutrients during the cooking process. Other kitchen appliances, not just rice cookers, tend to cause foods to lose a lot of their nutrient content.
Here are a few pressure cooker rice recipes that you can use at home, including instructions for cooking plain old white rice.
Plain Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe
(See the original recipe here)
Cook time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
Cooking Instructions:
- 1Put the rice in a strainer (one that has small holes, so that rice can’t fall through) and rinse well under water. This helps prevent unwanted sticking once the rice is cooked.
- 2Take out your pressure cooker. Add rice and water to it then pressure cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. Allow 10 minutes for the pressure to release.
- 3For larger quantities, follow a 1:1 rice to water ratio.
Rice Pilaf with Carrots, Peas, and Parsley
(See the original recipe here)
Cook time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Cooking Instructions:
- 1Melt butter in the pressure cooker, set on “Sauté.” Add onion, celery and carrot chunks. Cook for 3-5 min, stirring occasionally.
- 2Add rice, broth, water, and salt. Then pressure cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
- 3Fluff and serve.
Mango Sticky Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe
(See the original recipe here)
This Mango Sticky Rice recipe is a sweet but healthy treat to try at home. Use a coconut milk that is all-natural and unsweetened, artificial additives are never good to consume.
Cook time: 45 minutes (including 10 minutes of prep time)
Ingredients:
For coconut sauce:
Cooking Instructions:
- 1Pressure cook the rice – add rice and cold water to the pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Give at least another 12 minutes for the pressure to release, before removing the rice.
- 2On the side, combine sugar, a pinch of salt and coconut milk (2/3 C) in a medium-sized pan and cook over medium to low heat. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, pour onto the cooked rice and mix it together. You will need to allow some time for the rice mixture to soak up the coconut milk.
- 3To make coconut sauce. In a separate pan, mix coconut milk (1/2 C), sugar and salt. Bring it to a simmer and then gradually add 2 tbsp of coconut milk and 1 tbsp cornstarch. It should begin to thicken. Take off heat.
- 4Serve by making rice balls and then add the mango slices and coconut sauce on top of each rice ball. The toasted coconut flakes can be added on top as well if desired.
Use Your Pressure Cooker for Everything!
There are all sorts of tasty meals that you can cook with a pressure cooker. Some other fun things to try are chili, chicken, baby back ribs, pot roast, turkey breast and so on. Cooking rice is just one of the many ways you can use it. Most pressure cookers can act as not only a pressure cooker, but also as a slow cooker or canner.
These usually say “8-in-1” or “9-in-1” in the name, indicating that they have multiple functionalities. For example, the Instant Pot DUO Plus 60 is a 9-in-1 pressure cooker. It’s also one of the most popular pressure cookers available right now and is not too pricey.