Quinoa & Rice In The Instant Pot

Cooking quinoa & rice in the Instant Pot assures it turns out predictably tender every time. Combine budget friendly rice with nutrient packed quinoa to boost the nutritional value of this staple side dish.

My History With Rice

I can’t say we ate much rice during my childhood. We had it from time to time, but Asian inspired dishes, or rice as a side, were not a staple at our family table.

I don’t even remember the first time I cooked rice, but I believe it was during my early years in college. This was also the time a roommate introduced me to a rice cooker. Although, I never seemed to get my rice perfectly done using a kettle, at the time a rice cooker seemed like a worthless invention. A large object taking up space on the counter, and only serving one function seemed wasteful or silly. I guess I still feel a little bit that way (no offense if you love your rice cooker). I would probably still be cooking rice on the stove if it were not for the entrance of an Instant Pot into my life.

When I first bought my instant Pot (IP) I had dreams of taking frozen meat from iceberg to a meal in a timely fashion. However, I quickly realized that wasn’t going to be my main function for the newest appliance in my life. In reality I had met my side dish sous chef. Even though I had mastered the art of making white rice nearly perfect ever time on the stove, using the IP made it fuss free and predictably done every time.

Why Make Quinoa & Rice In An Instant Pot?

Making grains in an Instant Pot is so simple that everybody with an Instant Pot should know about it. Not only do you have the consistency in your cooking results, but by pre-programing the rice button on your machine you can have quinoa and rice on it’s way with only a touch of a button.

The Added Benefit of Quinoa

Now, while rice may be cheap and filling, my goal is to provide my kids with healthy meals to the best of my ability. The nutritional value of rice is minimal, and fortunately (or unfortunately) two of my kids LOVE rice, and subsequently would eat it as their whole meal if I let them. They especially love it with “spray” (Braggs Liquid Aminos) So, I have now updated my rice to include a healthy dose of quinoa.

Quinoa is often known as a superfood of the Andes. It is one of the best plant based sources of complete protein and boast all of the essential amino acids. It is also high in fiber, and contains key nutrients like potassium and magnesium. Which is why you will find the quinoa included in this recipe. My kids are getting beneficial nutrition, (even if they mainly want to eat the rice), and they don’t mind it’s addition one bit. You can leave it out (just adjust the liquid accordingly) or substitute for more rice.