Fried rice that is actually healthy? YES! I should have called this Instant Pot Fried Brown Rice the best “unfried” rice EVER! Oil-free + super easy + plant-based + made all in one pot + turns out just right every single time.
Tara’s Tips For Perfect Instant Pot Fried Brown Rice:
- Let’s talk about the brown rice. To soak or not to soak. Soaking cuts the cook time down but takes some preparation. Soaking brown rice also makes the nutrients in the grain easier for us to digest. Brown rice has phytic acid in it, (aka an anti-nutrient), and soaking helps remove some of this allowing us to easily absorb all of the good nutrients. I always soak my brown rice prior to eating it. Historically, there was some buzz about arsenic being found in brown rice, soaking it alleviates that concern if there truly is one. There is not much data out there on this currently but I choose to be on the safe side of this.
- Why brown rice? Higher in fiber than white rice with a lower in glycemic index. Also makes you feel full quicker that its white counterpart. An unrefined grain packed with vitamins, mineral, and antioxidants, this versatile whole grain is also gluten free.
- Cooking brown rice in your instant pot is super easy, no stirring, no adjusting liquid levels, no guess work!
- I added Thai basil to my Oil-Free Instant Pot Fried Brown Rice. This is an awesome addition, don’t skip it. The basil gives it that touch of authentic restaurant flavor.
- No oil or butter! Yep, it is true! You don’t need it, trust me here! Adding a little water when you are in sauté mode helps prevent the onions from sticking and sautéing them with the soy sauce allows them to release their own liquid so you will not burn them! Think of all the unnecessary calories I just saved you! Not sure about oil-free cooking? Start here: Guide to Oil-Free Cooking.
Adding Tofu Is Easy
There are so many options to make this oil-free fried rice a complete meal. Adding tofu on top after the rice cooks in the Instant Pot is a perfect way to go here. You can air fry it, bake it or pan-fry it. I love love love using the air fried version with this one. Click here to learn how to make crispy tofu in your air fryer! If you use oil + prefer to pan-fry your tofu, follow my instructions here. Prefer to bake your tofu? Click here for my step-by-step process for crispy oven baked tofu. New to tofu? Start here with Tofu 101. Alternatively, you could pair this with some steamed broccoli, Air Fryer Orange Tofu, or Sweet and Spicy Tofu.
Tara’s Other Thai Inspired Favorites:
Vegan Thai Curry, Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing, Vegan Pad Thai, Fried Rice Noodles, Oat Milk Red Curry. YUM!
Instant Pot Fried Brown Rice
This Instant Pot Fried Brown Rice is SO easy + quick + fail-proof, you will love it!
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced onion
- 2 tbsp soy sauce or liquid aminos
- 1 inch ginger (peeled + minced or shredded)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 cup brown rice
- 2 cups plus 1 cup water
- 2 cups frozen peas + carrots (thawed)
- 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil
- optional red pepper powder, salt to taste, chopped green onions, copped peanuts or cashews for topping/garnish
Directions
- Step 1 Rinse rice under cool water until water runs clear.
- Step 2 Place rice in a bowl with 2 cups of water. Soak the rice for 4-6 hours. After soaking, drain the water and rinse the rice under cool water again until the water runs clear. This yields optimal results, if you do not have time to soak, see cooking instructions below.
- Step 3 Press sauté on Instant Pot. Add onion and soy sauce.
- Step 4 Sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent. If the onion begins to stick, add 1 tbsp water at a time. Stir frequently.
- Step 5 Add the ginger and garlic. Continue to stir frequently and sauté for 2 minutes adding water 1 tbsp at a time if they begin to stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Step 6 Stir in the coconut aminos and then press cancel on the Instant Pot.
- Step 7 Next, add in the brown rice and 1 cup water, gently stir everything together until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the Instant Pot making sure none of the ingredients are stuck to the sides.
- Step 8 Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the valve to seal, press Manual/Pressure Cook, adjust the time/arrows to 18 minutes.
- Step 9 When the 18 minute cook time is up, wait 10 additional minutes and then carefully release the pressure manually.
- Step 10 ***If you have not soaked your rice, set the timer to 30 minutes and release the pressure manually after 15 minutes***
- Step 11 Remove the cover, stir in the peas + carrots. Allow to sit for 2-3 minutes. While waiting, chop the Thai basil. After 3 minutes, stir in the Thai basil. Taste test salt and spice level. Add in red chili pepper powder for spice + salt to taste.
- Step 12 Garnish with additional Thai basil, chopped green onions, red pepper, chopped peanuts or cashews.
- Step 13 Serve immediately while hot. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
❤Did you make this Instant Pot Fried Brown Rice? Love it? Leave a rating + a comment below!
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