I love my Instant Pot but I'm by no means a daily or weekly user of it. Some weeks I use it three times in a week, then I won't pull it out for two weeks. But after I made red rice the regular way I thought, "Hm, this could totally be Instant Potted." Because, you know, Instant Pot is a verb these days.
Red rice is a classic South Carolina dish that is easy to make and showcases the foods of the region. Some people's family recipes include celery, some include green bell peppers, some include none, and some both. I went for both since I don't have a family recipe and I like more vegetables in a dish.
Red rice can be from Charleston, Savannah, or anywhere in between or nearby. It can depend on who you are talking to. Look back further though, and it has great similarities to African jollof. Jollof is a rice dish with tomatoes, spices, vegetables, and meats made in a single pot. No matter where you say it's from, it's a true stick-to-your-ribs hearty dish. Red rice can be eaten on its own or as a side dish with other components of a meal.
Southern red rice for the Instant Pot
Many rice dishes translate well to the Instant Pot because the rice is able to absorb the exact amount of moisture it needs. It's even better in the IP because you can saute vegetables and spices before switching it over to pressure cooker mode. One pot meals are some of my absolute favorites! See other recipes I've made in the Instant Pot for more inspiration and similarly one pot meals.
Six quart Instant Pot
I only ever use the six quart Duo Instant Pot, so that is what this recipe is written for. I think it would translate to any other electric pressure cooker, but I can't say for sure. But I don't see why not though, as long as you follow the cooking instructions for your particular brand of electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Red Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil (or bacon grease, see note below)
- ½ cup onion diced
- ¼ cup celery finely diced
- ½ green bell pepper finely diced
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
- 1 dash hot sauce like Crystal or Texas Pete
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups long grain white rice
Instructions
- Pour the oil in the bottom of the Instant Pot chamber.
- Push the Saute button and once the oil is warm, after about 1 minute, add the onions, celery, and green bell peppers.
- Let saute for 3 minutes, then press the Keep Warm/Cancel button.
- Add in the remaining ingredients and stir slightly to combine everything.
- Put the lid on the Insant Pot and turn the gauge on the lid to Sealing. On the control panel, press Rice. This should bring up a 12 minute timer.
- The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure, then will begin the countdown from 12. Once it beeps, leave it be until the pressure releases. If you need to release the pressure sooner, gently and carefully use a spoon to move the gauge on top to Venting. Hot hot steam will come out, so be careful. Refer to your IP instructions for more on this.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and it us ready to serve.
Notes
What kind of rice should I use for red rice?
I like using long grain white rice for this red rice recipe. You can use brown rice but you'll probably definitely be able to tell it's brown rice, because it will affect the flavor and texture. However, if that doesn't bother you, double the liquid and the cooking time to accommodate the brown rice. Brown rice takes longer to cook because of the outer bran layer. The outer bran layer is removed to make white rice.
You can also use Carolina Gold rice, but it's kind of pricey, and given the gentle, natural buttery flavor of it is going to be covered up by a lot of other heavy flavors, you may not want to. It is the most "authentic" choice given that it's native to the Lowcountry, but you're also making this in an Instant Pot, so I doubt you're on that big of an authenticity kick. However, if you want to, go for it! The Carolina Gold Rice Foundation works hard to keep that rice alive, so they deserve your support in any way you wish to eat their wares.
Make this red rice vegan
Many old Southern dishes are made with pork or bacon fat, which makes it hard for someone to eat meatlessly in the South. But you can easily substitute the bacon grease for olive or coconut oil, and add the smokiness back into the dish with Liquid Smoke or smoked salt.
Worcestershire sauce is also not typically vegan, as it contains anchovies or fish sauce. If you're a hardcore vegan you may already know this and have a vegan version of Worcestershire sauce. If not, you can substitute for it to make this recipe completely vegan. Some people who do not eat meat don't worry about little things like this, but if anyone with dietary restrictions will be eating this, ask or let them know in advance.
Do you have a family recipe for red rice?
See more Instant Pot recipes
