Lebanese Rice is a fun and flavorful twist on plain white rice, and I've made it easy as can be in the Instant Pot! Toasted with Vermicelli noodles and cinnamon, this rice dish is ready to be paired with your favorite main dishes and give your kitchen a Middle Eastern flair.
I recently saw Feel Good Foodies recipe for Lebanese Rice and knew I had to make my own version! I opted to create an Instant Pot take on this dish and it turned out SO good. Even the kids loved it! I'll for sure be adding this quick, simple, and flavorful recipe to our dinnertime rotation, especially since it pairs so well with all of our favorite dinners.
What is Lebanese Rice?
This dish is a staple in Middle Eastern cooking! It's made with Vermicelli noodles that get toasted in oil and cinnamon before being cooked with basmati rice. This extra step creates a really deep, rich flavor that tastes special and gourmet...even though it's super easy to make at home! I sauté and cook everything right in the Instant Pot for minimal cleanup and maximum ease.
Gluten-Free Vermicelli Noodles
This recipe is made with Vermicelli noodles, which are a form of fine, thin rice noodles. These are usually made with rice flour and naturally gluten-free, but always check your packaging! I've also made this Lebanese Rice with Jovial's brown rice Capellini noodles broken up into smaller pieces and that was really good.
How to Garnish Lebanese Rice
I love to add toppings that make this a hearty, filling dish! I would suggest adding toasted pine nuts, slivered almonds, and fresh parsley leaves for a colorful plate. Of course, omit the nuts to keep this Lebanese Rice nut-free! The other night I served it with my Zucchini Hummus and Bobby said it was SUPER filling. That's a weeknight win!
What to Serve with Lebanese Rice
There are truly endless possibilities! I love a versatile dish, and this one has got to be the most flavorful. I'll be serving this rice with...
- Crispy Falafel is a crowd favorite and gets thumbs up every time
- Any variety of Hummus
- Vegan Tzatziki Sauce
- Crispy chickpeas add some delicious plant-based protein and a satisfying crunch
- Roasted Veggies create a whole rainbow of color right in your bowl!
- Grilled Veggies are delicious especially in the summer months
This Lebanese Rice recipe is gluten-free, vegan (free of dairy, meat, and eggs), and soy-free. Just omit the nuts for a nut-free recipe! I hope you make and love it as much as we do...and if so, please drop a review below! It helps me more than you know. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can celebrate your cooking!
More Easy Sides
Quinoa Cauliflower "Rice"
Spanish Rice and Beans
Quinoa Stuffing
Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes
Perfectly Cooked Quinoa in the Instant Pot
Easy Coconut Rice
How to Make Perfectly Cooked Quinoa
Instant Pot Lebanese Rice
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Lebanese Rice is a fun and flavorful twist on plain white rice, and I've made it easy as can be in the Instant Pot! Toasted with Vermicelli noodles and cinnamon, this rice dish is ready to be paired with your favorite main dishes and give your kitchen a Middle Eastern flair.
Ingredients
- 2 cups white basmati rice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup gluten-free vermicelli noodles*
- ¾ teaspoon fine salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2.5 cups filtered water
Garnishes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup raw pine nuts
- ½ cup sliced (or slivered) almonds
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup fresh Italian flat leaf parsley leaves (large stems removed), finely chopped
Instructions
- Place rice in a large fine mesh strainer and rinse well with water for a couple minutes until the water runs clean. Use your hands to move the rice around to ensure all the rice gets well rinsed. Leave the rice in the stainer and place in a large bowl full of water to allow the rice to soak for 20 minutes. If you do not have time you can skip the soaking step. Soaking the rice makes the rice fluffier when cooked and more restaurant-style quality. However, this recipe will still work well without soaking.
- Hit the "Saute" button on your Instant Pot and add oil, noodles, salt and cinnamon. Saute for 5-7 minutes until noodles are golden brown and lightly toasted. Use a large wooden spoon to saute the noodles being careful not to leave them unattended or they will burn.
- Add rinsed, soaked and DRAINED rice to the Instant Pot overtop the toasted noodles and continue to saute another 5 minutes to toast the rice. This helps get everything in the dish nice and flavored before cooking.
- Press "Off" and add water to the Instant Pot overtop the rice and noodle mixture. Give it a quick stir and then secure the lid of the Instant Pot. Place the valve to "Sealed" not "Vent" and press the "Rice" function which cooks it on low pressure for 12 minutes.
- While it cooks, toast the nuts and prep your finely chopped parsley leaves. To toast the nuts, warm a skillet over medium heat. Add oil, pine nuts, almonds and salt and saute over low to medium heat for 10 minutes until nuts are lightly toasted and golden brown. Be careful not to burn. Set aside until rice is finished cooking.
- Once the rice is finished cooking (Instant Pot will beep) press "Off" and manually release the steam by moving the valve from "Sealed" to "Vent." Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve rice while hot with toasted nuts and fresh parsley garnished overtop.
- Serve with hummus, vegan tzatziki sauce, crispy chickpeas, roasted veggies, grilled veggies and/or falafel for a full meal.
- This recipe makes a large amount. Store leftovers once fully cooled to room temperature in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
*Look for gluten-free rice vermicelli noodles if you are gluten-free. If not, any type of vermicelli will work. I have even used Jovial gluten-free brown rice capellini noodles and broken them up by hand into 1-inch pieces and that worked great.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Side
- Method: Pressure Cooker and Stovetop
- Cuisine: Lebanese
Keywords: instant pot lebanese rice
This recipe is adapted for the Instant Pot from Feel Good Foodie's stovetop recipe for Lebanese Rice.
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