{"id":1065,"date":"2021-01-02T20:52:10","date_gmt":"2021-01-03T03:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pressurecookingtoday.com\/?p=1065"},"modified":"2021-10-05T06:09:20","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T12:09:20","slug":"saffron-almond-rice-pilaf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pressurecookingtoday.com\/saffron-almond-rice-pilaf\/","title":{"rendered":"Instant Pot Rice Pilaf with Saffron & Almonds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Instant Pot Rice Pilaf<\/strong>, made with saffron, chicken broth, toasted almonds, and fluffy white rice, is fragrant, fluffy, and an easy-to-make, healthy side dish. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rice is one of my favorite dishes to make in the Instant Pot. And while it couldn\u2019t be easier to make simple and perfectly fluffy white rice<\/a>, brown rice<\/a>, or even forbidden rice<\/a>, it\u2019s also just as easy to make a flavorful rice pilaf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This recipe elevates white rice with a rich saffron broth, gorgeous color, and crunchy, nutty almonds for garnish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Update:<\/strong> My family loves homemade rice pilaf in the Instant Pot with a simple protein for dinner, so I\u2019ve updated this post with tips and tricks so your family can dig in too!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Make Rice Pilaf in the Instant Pot\/Pressure Cooker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This Saffron Almond Rice Pilaf recipe will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot<\/a>, Ninja Foodi<\/a>, or Power Pressure Cooker XL<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This dish is flavored with a rich saffron chicken broth. When cooking with saffron, it\u2019s important to bloom<\/strong> the spice first. This means simply soaking the dried saffron threads in warm liquid  before adding them to your dish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this pilaf recipe, bloom the saffron directly in the warm chicken stock you use to cook your rice. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a pinch you can skip the saffron, though it adds a deep, delicious flavor and a beautiful color. We use either coupe grade or superior saffron. We’re currently using this beautiful saffron from Penzey’s<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, you don\u2019t have to toast the almonds for your pilaf, but I recommend it if you have the time. It takes just a few minutes in a large skillet over medium heat or in a 350\u00b0F oven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The toasted nuts will be much more flavorful, fragrant, and crunchier. <\/strong>They add the perfect textural contrast to the fluffy rice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is Rice Pilaf?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that pilaf is the name of both the dish and the cooking style? To cook in the pilaf style means that you toast the rice in oil or another cooking fat before adding the cooking liquid (in this case chicken broth). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilaf also must cook in a covered pot and is not stirred after the rice and liquid are incorporated. That\u2019s why the Instant Pot \/ electric pressure cooker is the perfect way to make easy rice pilaf at home. There\u2019s no need to babysit the pot, worry about overflow, or make sure you have the right liquid to rice ratio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, pilaf has other ingredients mixed into the rice\u2014in this case, saffron, celery, and onions. You\u2019ll also find pilaf made with herbs<\/a>, mushrooms, or other vegetables<\/a>. The possibilities are pretty endless when it comes to flavoring homemade rice pilaf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What to Serve with Rice Pilaf<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a hearty and flavorful rice pilaf that I love to serve with simple grilled chicken or pork chops<\/a> and steamed vegetables for a well rounded and easy weeknight meal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other great pairings for saffron Instant Pot Rice Pilaf include Instant Pot Butter Chicken<\/a> and Chicken Shawarma<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More Pressure Cooker \/ Instant Pot Rice Recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you ask me, an Instant Pot is the best way to make perfect Instant Pot rice recipes<\/a> like these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n