It has been a few years now since the Instant Pot became a basic kitchen tool in every house, but have you ever thought of how easier your life is thanks to this amazing gadget?

Robert Wang is the Steve Jobs of kitchen supplies as he created a groundbreaking tool, the machine that can make full rice-based recipes on its own. Does it adapt to every recipe? Is, for example, a Spanish rice recipe easy to make in an Instant Pot? All these questions have the same answer: yes! Keep reading to find out how you can benefit from this tool and the recipe for this staple side dish, now easier than ever.

Instant Pot: the basics

Nowadays, there are many versions of the instant pot and they all have different specifications and programs, but they are all ready to make almost any kind of rice-based dish, amongst others, in just a matter of minutes.

However, there are a few basic points we could point out and some tips to make the most out of the gadget. You should know that the Instant Pot is a combination of a pressure cooker and a slow cooker. It is a multi-cooker that can be used not only for rice cooking but also comes with a yogurt-making function, a steamer, a browning pan, and more. That is why having one of these gadgets makes cooking an easy, quick, and pleasant experience.

Few dishes can’t be made in an Instant pot, but the staples are always a good fit for this kitchen tool.

Spanish rice made easy

Dishes like Spanish rice or risotto-like meals are perfect for the Instant Pot because they are made alone. The spirit of this gadget is throwing all the ingredients at once and then letting it do its job to go back and get ready to enjoy a delicious meal.

Considering this, and the fact that Spanish rice is basically cooked in chicken or vegetable broth and tomato sauce, it’s worth trying to cook it this way.

If you have an Instant Pot, give this recipe a try and let us know what you think.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of butter.
• 2 cups of white rice.
• 1 onion.
• 1 red bell pepper.
• 2 cloves of garlic.
• 2 cups of chicken or vegetable broth.
• 1 cup of tomato sauce.
• Oregano to taste.
• Paprika to taste.
• Salt to taste.
• Pepper to taste.

Instructions:

1. As you’ll be cooking rice in the instant pot, rinse it two or three times before taking it to the machine. Do so until the water comes off clear to get rid of the excess starch and avoid getting a gummy dish.
2. Take an onion and red bell pepper, wash them and dice them up. Set aside.
3. Melt a tablespoon of butter in the instant pot and add two cups of rice together with the diced vegetables. Use the gadget in its saute function and cook for a couple of minutes until it is toasted.
4. In the meantime, peel and chop two cloves of garlic and take it to the Instant Pot. Cook for just a couple more minutes. Turn it off once you’re done.
5. Now, it’s time to add two cups of broth which can be chicken or vegetable depending on your diet. You can make a broth from scratch or use a flavor cube in two cups of boiling water. Together with the broth, you’ll add a can of tomato sauce and mix.
6. Before starting the instant pot, season the mix with salt and pepper to taste. Add some oregano and paprika to enhance the flavors. Now, set the Instant Pot in its pressure cook function and cook at high temperature for just five minutes with the lid on.
7. Once it’s done, let the mix sit for just a couple of minutes. Then, remove the lid and, with the help of a fork, fluff the rice before serving!

Cook’s Tips

• If you're a vegetarian and want to make this your main dish, add some frozen peas or some previously rinsed chickpeas to the mix.
• Meals prepared on the Instant Pot follow the same rules for storing and freezing. If you have any leftovers, you can just store it in an airtight container and take it to the fridge for a couple of days, no more than five.
• Freezing Spanish rice is not recommended so as not to change the texture of the rice. However, you can do so and it will last for a month.

Image Credits:Image 2: Image by Robert Couse-Baker on Flickr