Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Wild rice blend: I use Lundberg Family Farms Wild Blend Rice, which is a combination of long grain brown rice, sweet brown rice, wild rice, red rice and black rice.
• Liquid: water, chicken broth, vegetable broth or beef broth all work.
• Salt
• Optional herbs: thyme, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite seasonings can be added to customize the flavor.

What Is The Liquid To Rice Ratio?

Different types of rice have different ratios. For wild rice blends, the rice to water ratio is about 1 cup rice blend to 1.5 cups water. Depending on the brand and what's in the blend you may need a little more or less. You'll know for sure after the first pressure cook.

What Is The Cooking Time

Wild rice blends pressure cook for about 18-20 minutes depending on the brand.

Should I Use Natural Pressure Release or Quick Release?

For the perfect chewy texture, naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes and then quickly release the remaining pressure. Fluff with a fork and remove the inner pot from the pressure cooker if possible. This keeps the rice from cooking further as it sits, which can cause it to stick to the pot.

Do I Need To Rinse Wild Rice Blend Prior To Cooking?

Yes. Rinse wild rice under cool water until the water runs clear.

Instructions

Make Instant Pot wild rice blend following these easy steps:

1. Add 1 cup of wild rice blend to a fine mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly under cool running water until the water runs clear.
2. Put the rinsed rice into the inner pot of the pressure cooker. Add 1.5 cups of water/broth and salt. If using other seasonings like rosemary, parsely, black pepper etc., add them now. Stir well. 
3. Close and seal the pressure cooker lid. Set to high pressure for 20 minutes.
4. Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
5. Open the lid, fluff with a fork and season with additional salt if desired. Serve warm with your favorite meal or add to other recipes. 

Using The Pot-In-Pot Method

The above method works for Instant Pot owners who don't have the extra equipment needed to use the pot-in-pot method. However, this is my preferred method for cooking rice as it can never trigger a burn notice, prevents rice from sticking to the inner pot and makes the pot much easier to clean.

Here's how to use the pot-in-pot method to make perfectly cooked rice:

1. Add 1 cup of rice blend to a fine mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly under cool running water until the water runs clear.
2. Put the rinsed rice into a cake pan that fits your pressure cooker. Add 1.5 cups of water/broth and salt to the cake pan. Stir well. Place the cake pan on a silicone sling or trivet. 
3. Pour 1.5 cups of cool water into the inner pot of the pressure cooker. Lift the silicone sling or trivet with the cake pan of rice into the inner pot. 
4. Close and seal the lid. Set to high pressure for 20 minutes.
5. Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then complete a quick release of the remaining pressure.

How To Store

Wild rice blend should be stored in an airtight container or resealable bag in the refrigerator. It will keep for about 1 week. It can be frozen for up to 6 months using freezer safe storage bags. It's a good idea to portion it out prior to freezing if you plan to use your wild rice blend for meal prepping or in other dishes.

Troubleshooting

Why Is My Rice Mushy?

Wild rice blend can become mushy if too much liquid is used or it's cooked under pressure for too long. This can happen when the blend contains quicker-cooking grains, such as white rice, alongside longer-cooking wild or brown rice.

Measure the liquid carefully, avoid extending the pressure cooking time unnecessarily, and fluff the rice gently with a fork after cooking.

Why Is My Rice Still Crunchy?

If your wild rice blend is still crunchy after cooking, it likely needs more cooking time or liquid. Different rice blends contain different grains, and some, especially wild rice and brown rice, take longer to soften than white rice.

To fix it, add ¼ to ½ cup of water or broth to the Instant Pot, secure the lid, and cook on high pressure for another 3-5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally before checking the texture again.

How To Keep Rice From Sticking To The Bottom

To prevent wild rice blend from sticking to the bottom of your Instant Pot, make sure you're using enough liquid and rinse the rice blend before cooking to remove excess surface starch. You can also stir in a little butter or olive oil before pressure cooking to help reduce sticking. Make sure no grains are stuck to the bottom of the pot before securing the lid. After cooking, allow the pressure to release as directed, then fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving.

What To Serve With Wild Rice

Wild rice blend pairs well with a variety of dishes due to its nutty flavor and chewy texture. Here are some ideas for what to serve with plain wild rice:

• Grilled, roasted or air fried chicken dishes, such as pecan crusted chicken.
• Beef and lamb main dishes, like rosemary and garlic leg of lamb, slow cooked lamb chops and air fried ribeye steak.
• Meatloaf, such as a traditional meatloaf, barbecue cheddar meatloaf or even meatloaf muffins.
• Fish: wild rice pairs nicely with fish, especially salmon. Try it with this one-pot air fried salmon and broccoli dinner or air fried frozen salmon fillets. It's even great with maple-glazed bacon wrapped scallops and flavorful pressure cooked mussels. 
• Vegetarian main dishes: wild rice is a great option for vegetarian or vegan meals. Combine it with vegetables like broccoli, asparagus or green beans, tofu bites, or beans.

Using Wild Rice In Other Recipes

Grilled or Roasted Meats: Wild rice complements the flavors of grilled or roasted meats such as chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. It's great served with these slow cooker apple pork chops and crock pot country style ribs and barbecue chicken thighs. Rather than using noodles or rice, use your wild rice blend as the grain paired with crock pot pepper steak and beef and broccoli.

Soups and Stews: Add cooked wild rice to hearty soups or stews for extra texture and substance. It works well in combination with a variety of flavors, from chicken noodle soup to vegetable soup. Wild rice pairs well with slow cooker Middle Eastern stew and lamb meatballs and vegetables. I love using my wild rice blend in beef vegetable soup, chicken barley soup, beef barley soup and spring minestrone.

Stuffed Vegetables: Use cooked wild rice blend as the filling for stuffed bell peppers and other vegetables along with meat and spices. It works well as a substitute for the white rice called for in these Instant Pot stuffed peppers, stuffed grape leaves and Instant Pot stuffed cabbage rolls.