This Yellow Rice Recipe is another flavorful rice side to slip into the weeknight dinner rotation. It’s ready in 20 Instant Pot minutes, and doesn’t heat up the house on these hot summer days. It’s also perfect for eating with seafood dishes, stews, and beans.
Don’t have an instant pot? No problem. Try my arroz blanco, or traditional Mexican rice on the stove recipes.
Why Try This Recipe
I’ve made the recipe on the stove and tested it in my instant pot to yield the same greatness. Why did I do this? I live in LA, where the summer heat is wild. I’m always looking ways to prevent heating up the kitchen / turning on the stove. This arroz amarillo also comes in for the save on days I’m out of tomato sauce.
Make this yellow rice with vegetables or plain. It’s broth optional, delicious with or without. You’ll love this rice, it’s a favorite of mine with fresh green beans when in season.
Ingredients
Grocery Quick List: water, long grain rice, onion, garlic, turmeric and cumin powder, salt, veggies, cilantro optional.
Ingredient Notes / Variations
Broth – If the broth is unsalted, use 2 teaspoons of kosher salt. If broth is salted, use 1-1.5 tsp of kosher salt. If no broth is available, use 2 teaspoons (kosher salt or 1.5 sea salt).
Spices – Find individual spices at your local grocer; in this recipe, we use cumin and turmeric, or your favorite bouillon type.
IP Tip! It’s best to have the spices measured out on a small plate and ready to go for your convenience. This makes things easier as you quickly load up your IP [instant pot] for the recipe.
Veggies – Fresh or Frozen Veggies will work! Frequent used vegetables like corn, carrots, green beans, carrots, and potatoes are used.
Vegetable Variations – Bell pepper; red, yellow, or green. All are excellent choices if you’d prefer a different type of veggie then the ones listed above. I recommend sliced or small diced. Any leftover pepper can be used in a fresh veggie platter.
If you use fresh veggies, like carrot or potato, place them in the instant pot as whole or medium. Round or diagonal cuts work best from my experience. This will prevent from overcooking. Extra carrot is great for make ahead prep for a different dish like our Ensalada Rusa (Potato Salad Mixed Veggie) recipe.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Learn my method, and you’ll get such good yellow instant pot rice and get more use out of your kitchen appliance.
Here are the photos. Instructions in the recipe card below.
A printer-friendly recipe card with instructions to make this rice is at the bottom of this post.
Please read and refer to your Instant Pot user manual for safe handling of your appliance. To find your instant pot user manual please visit: Instant Pot Support.
What To Eat With [Yellow Rice]
Need ideas on what to serve with arroz amarillo, here’s a few of our favorite main dishes:
- Crispy Potato Tacos
- Creamy Avocado Salsa
- Chiles Rellenos Recipe (easy version)
- Shredded Beef Tacos
- Fresh Peruano Beans
Pro Tips / Receta FAQs
Recipe yield: 3 cups, 6 – 1/2 cup servings
How can I get some of that Mexican spice to it? Add a rinsed fresh jalapeño for a kick of spice. Use half a pepper for less spice or opt for a grilled hot pepper as a side fixing.
Is this recipe vegan? To make this vegan Mexican yellow rice, eliminate the butter and use a vegetable broth. It’ll be delicious!
I need to make sure this rice is extra soft: My recommendation is to add an additional ¼ cup of water if you want softer rice (think semi-risotto texture). Use the same cook time of 6 minutes- do not increase the time.
Utensils: Stainless steel utensils in your instant pot will scratch it. Use heat safe alternatives like bamboo, silicone, or wood spoons to protect your Instant Pot from damage.
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Yellow Mexican Rice (Instant Pot)
DESCRIPTION
Equipment
- Instant pot
- Instant pot utensil (or wooden / silicone utensil)
- Measuring spoons 1/4 tsp, 1/8 tsp, 1 tsp, and 1 tbsp
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/4 large white onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup broth (unsalted, or low sodium)
- 1/2 teaspoon unsalted butter optional
- 1 tsp kosher salt (see Ingredients notes under broth)
- 1/4 tsp parsley flakes optional
- 1/8 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp turmeric powder
Optional Vegetables
- 1/4 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup green beans
- 1/4 cup carrots
Optional
- serrano or jalapeno (for slight spice)
- 4-5 cilantro sprigs
Instructions
- Round up all of the ingredients and your measuring spoons and keep them within reach. Rinse and prep additional fresh or frozen veggies if you are making your Mexican yellow rice with vegetables.
- Press sauté setting on the instant pot, let warm for 3 minutes, add oil and let warm for 1 minute.
- Carefully add the garlic and onion to the oil and let it sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Add a cup of rice to your instant pot. Stir the rice into the oil for 1 minute so that all rice grains get coated.
- Turn sauté setting to off. And immediately proceed to the next steps for the cooking portion in this instant pot Mexican rice recipe.
- Add water, broth, cumin, parsley, salt, turmeric powder, and butter, then stir in 30 seconds. Add diced vegetables to the top of the rice.
- Cover with instant pot lid, lock, and seal the venting. Press Manual button, ensuring to disable the 'keep warm' setting, and set time to 6 minutes.Note: The time it takes for the instant pot to reach pressure for this rice is 8 minutes, followed by 6 minutes of cooking.
- Once the instant pot has finished, allow a natural release for 6 minutes (a.k.a, leave it alone for 6 minutes after it has cooked).
- After 6 minutes have passed, carefully turn the release switch to venting. Once pressure has released, open up your instant pot and cover with the lid or a kitchen towel. Once cooled, remove the lid, remove and dispose of cooked onion and garlic. Fluff or plate your delicious yellow rice and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Stay tuned for our stovetop yellow rice made in our favorite olla. To be notified when the recipe drops. Sign up and Subscribe to newsletter and you’ll be the first to know!
Equipment
- Instant pot
- Instant pot utensil (or wooden / silicone)
- Measuring spoons: 1/4 tsp, 1/8 tsp, 1 tsp, and 1 tbsp
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