How to Cook Black Rice (Forbidden Rice)

This black rice recipe makes cooking forbidden rice super easy! Stovetop and Instant Pot rice cooking instructions with handy water to rice ratios.

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Why This Recipe Works

Instant Pot black rice is super easy and convenient. Serve this up with some Air Fryer Mahi Mahi for a healthy and filling meal.

You can use this recipe to make black rice sushi! This black rice is also delicious served with my Spicy Crab Roll, Tobiko Sushi, Salmon Tataki and Yellowtail Sashimi served with a garlic citrus ponzu dipping sauce.

Purple forbidden rice is super delicious and versatile. I love serving this rice warm, topped with a Korean marinated Mayak Soy Sauce Egg.

Why is it called forbidden black rice?

Black rice (purple rice) is sometimes referred to as forbidden rice or emperor’s rice. The name was said to have originated as a special rice reserved only for Chinese emperors and forbidden to be eaten by anyone else. It was believed to provide health and longevity due to superior nutritional properties.

Black rice nutrition facts

⅓ cup dry black forbidden rice contains 200 calories, 43g carbohydrates and 3g dietary fiber.

Where can I buy it and what is the best brand?

You can buy black rice in many grocery stores. Specifically in the asian food specialty aisle. Whole foods generally carries this rice, as well as Sprouts Market in the bulk food section.

Two brands that I have used are:

Lotus Foods Organic Forbidden Rice. I found this to be a darker black hue all throughout the grain.

Lundberg Organic Black Pearl Rice. I found this to be black/brown hue with a lighter interior when cooked.

Rice to Water Ratio

The rice to water ratio varies depending on your cooking method.

• Stovetop: 1 cup (rice): 2 cup (water)
• Instant Pot: 1 cup (rice): 1 ¾ cup (water)

Can I cook black rice in an Instant Pot?

Yes! Truth be told, using an Instant Pot for rice is my favorite method because it is so quick and easy. You can also cook it in a pressure cooker. The recipes below include instructions for both the stovetop and instant pot version.

If you haven’t discovered the magical powers of the Instant Pot yet, you might want to consider this life changing gadget. The Instant Pot Duo multi-cooker combines 7 appliances in one: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker and warmer – and cooks up to 70% faster. CRAZY! It is super speedy and convenient for rice and makes cooking “low and slow” so much faster but with all the flavor!

Can I make black rice for sushi?

Follow the rice cooking instructions below. Once the rice is done cooking, in order to make sushi rice, add approximately two tablespoons of rice vinegar to your rice and fold in gently (Note: Per 1 cup dry rice). Check out my Vegetable Sushi recipes for 8 different sushi roll ideas!

If you want to make some delicious sushi, check out these recipes for sushi rice and some amazing sushi sauces:

• Vegetable Sushi
• Instant Pot Sushi Rice (White Rice Version)
• Eel Sauce
• Bang Bang Sauce
• Chili Crisp
• Black Tahini

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