Use this easy multi-veggie pressure cooker rice dish as a light one pot meal for four, a side dish for six. This recipe shows you how to add vegetables to any rice dish but counting some of the vegetables as the cooking liquid. The exceptions, as explained in more detail earlier in the lesson, include anything you saute’ at the beginning of the recipe or a modest amount of frozen peas.
In this recipe we’re going to saute’ onions before pressure cooking . However, not all electric pressure cookers have a “Brown” or “Saute'” program. For those that don’t, press any pressure cooking program- don’t worry, the cooker can’t reach pressure without the lid. The goal is to turn on the heating element to heat-up the base. By the way, you can do this after pressure cooking in case you need to reduce the cooking liquids (you won’t need to with this here).
This recipe is also the perfect template to follow for making any pressure cooker pilaf or risotto, too
See Also: Pressure Cooker Risotto in 7 minutes!
Pressure Cooker | Accessories | Pr. Cook Time | Pr. Level | Open |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 L or larger | none | High(2) | 10-min- Natural |
(per serving)
- Serves: 4-6 servings
- Serving size: ⅙th
- Calories: 271.3
- TOTAL Fat: 2.9g
- TOTAL Carbs: 54.8g
- Sugar Carbs: 1.1g
- Sodium: 412.6mg
- Fiber Carbs: 2.3g
- Protein: 5.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg

- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium bell pepper (any color)
- 1 carrot, grated
- water as needed (follow recipe instructions)
- 2 cups (500ml) Basmati or long-grain rice
- ½ cup (65g) peas (fresh or frozen)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pre-heat the pressure cooker by pressing the "Brown" or "Saute'" program.
- Swirl in the olive oil and onion and saute' until translucent.
- In the meantime, in a 4-cup capacity (1L) liquid measuring cup add the bell pepper, grated carrots and pat down lightly into an even layer.
- Pour water into the measuring container with the veggies until you reach the 3 cup mark (750ml) and set aside.
- Back to the pressure cooker, pour in the rice, peas and salt. Mix well.
- Now, add the measuring cup with water and veggies into the pressure cooker. Mix well.
- Close the lid and set the valve to pressure cooking position.
- Electric pressure cookers and stove top pressure cookers: Cook for 3 minutes at high pressure.
- When time is up, open the pressure cooker with the 10-Minute Natural release.
Electric pressure cookers: When cooking time is up, count 10 minutes of Natural pressure release. Then, release the rest of the pressure slowly using the valve.
Stovetop pressure cookers: Move the cooker off the hot burner and count 10 minutes of Natural pressure release. Even if all of the pressure is naturally released before the 10 minutes are up keep the lid closed the entire time. Otherwise, release any remaining pressure slowly using the valve. - Fluff the rice with a fork, and serve!

Love this confetti rice. Adding to my shopping list.
Grated carrots! Good idea for rice! We eat alot of rice here so im always trying to vary it.
Your video for this recipe was fun & enlightening! Thanks for all that you teach us!
Can You do this confetti with brown rice? Do I just cook it the 20 minutes for the brown rice?
Thanks for these videos! I love them!
Hi Luann, yes. You can do confetti brown rice (tho the peas will be a little soft). Increase the cooking time and adjust the liquid to what is required for brown rice – offhand I think it’s 1 1/4 cups of water or 2 1/2 cups total (instead of three for the Basmati).
Ciao,
L
Do you recommend rinsing basmati rice before browning and cooking?
Could you use Chicken Broth instead of the water?
Absolutely, you can substitute water with broth!
Ciao,
L
What if I want add small shrimp or chicken pieces or tofu ? When and how should I do that and does fish, shrimp, chicken, tofu has to be cooked before and when in the process should I add it?
Elaine cut the meat and tofu in small pieces – you can even brown them before starting with this recipe. Add the shrimp into the cooking liquid. If the meat is browned or pre-cooked you don’t need to subtract water. Otherwise eye-ball-it or measure them with the cooking liquid before browning (but since you got them wet it’s a bit of a mess).
Ciao,
L
Sorry I should have asked for a mushroom to : when and how ?
Mushrooms are mostly water, so include them in the cooking liquid.
Ciao,
L