Wild rice made in the Instant Pot is a very efficient cooking method. Rice is my all time favorite side dish so I cook it a lot. You’ll often find me pairing my Ono Rice recipe and my Mexican Rice with chicken, fish, and beef. Wild rice happens to be one of my favorite types, except it’s not actually a rice. Wild rice is a species of grass that produces edible seeds that resemble rice. It takes a good amount of time to cook, but when you cook wild rice in the Instant Pot, it reduces the cooking time by half! The total cooking time for this Instant Pot wild rice dish will take 28 minutes, plus a few additional minutes for releasing the pressure. And you don’t need to soak the wild rice beforehand either. You simply add the ingredients together and let the magic of pressure do all the hard work.
🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need
Because it’s al dente and firm in texture, I like mixing it with brown rice to cut down on it becoming overly chewy. The olive oil helps lock in the moisture while cooking so the recipe doesn’t dry out. For the citrus vinaigrette, I combine the juice and some zest from a lemon and orange to add a pop of citrus flavor. Adding a small amount of sugar helps cut down some of the tart from the citrus. Adding in dried cranberries provides a sweet taste and pairs well with the textures of the rice blend. The chopped pecans compliment the nutty taste of the rice and adds a bit of a crunch to each bite. When it’s done, I top it off with some fresh green onions to add a bit of flavor. Salt and pepper is also used to taste. This recipe can be made in the pressure cooker or on the stovetop. If making this on the stove, you’ll use butter when bringing the rice to a boil. Butter should not be used if making this in a pressure cooker because it will make the entire dish mushy.
📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
Start by making the citrus vinaigrette. In a small bowl, add the olive oil, fresh lemon and orange juice, sugar, and the zest of the orange. Mix well and set aside. Next, add in the wild and brown rice, dried cranberries, water, citrus vinaigrette, and a dash of salt and pepper to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine and then place the on lid. Set the valve to steaming and lock the lid in place. Set the Instant Pot to manual mode, ensuring the pressure level is set to the high pressure setting. Click on the + button and set the time to 28 minutes. When the timer counts down to 0 and the Instant Pot beeps, turn the pressure valve to venting and let the pressure release. Allow the contents to sit in the pressure cooker for 15 minutes before removing the lid. When done, remove the lid and add the chopped pecans and scallions. Fluff the mixture with a fork and serve. While this is a great side dish for any day of the week, I enjoy it a lot during the holidays. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. It also pairs well with roasted chicken and pork.
💭 Expert Tips
This recipe can also be made on the stovetop! Step-By-Step instructions are in the recipe card below.Instead of using individual packages of brown and wild rice, you can use a mix, such as Lundberg Wild Blend Rice. Black rice can be substituted. If you use this type, set the pressure timing to 30 minutes instead of 28 minutes.When I cook wild rice in an Instant Pot, the pressure and the timing can be controlled by using the manual mode setting. If the rice mode setting is used, it will be undercooked and crunchy.Only use dried cranberries with this dish. Fresh cranberries change the flavor to be more tart instead of sweet.Don’t use butter if making this in the pressure cooker because it will make the entire dish mushy.This dish can be served either hot, cold, or at room temperature. Store leftover in a container with a lid and place it in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
🥘 Main Dishes That Pair Well
This Instant Pot wild rice pairs really well with my Maple Roasted Chicken with Vegetables. The sweet and savory flavors are over the top delicious! If you’re looking for more of a savory flavor to pair this side dis with, try my Roasted Garlic Herb Chicken. It’s made in the slow cooker and requires minimal effort. It’s super savory and delicious! This Roasted Chicken with Fresh Herbs is another savory dish that pairs well! Update Notes: This post was originally published in May 2012, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in August 2021.
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