This Curried Chickpea Fried Rice in a Jar is the perfect homemade food gift that can be made with pantry staple ingredients you might already have! This One Pot recipe be made in the Instant Pot in less than 10 minutes. Gluten-free & refined sugar-free.
Need a homemade gift but don’t want to resort to the old hot chocolate or chocolate chip cookie mix? For a creative and different homemade gift, make my Curried Fried Rice in a Jar. These cute mason jars filled with rice and a special spice blend are amazing for gifting and especially great for those who don’t love sweets. This is a dump and done recipe. Dump everything in the instant pot with water/stock and salt and close and pressure cook!
The best thing? You might already have most ingredients in your pantry. Just fill your jar with some basmati rice, then grab a small empty spice dispenser and layer the spice mix in it. Then place the little jar with the spice mix into the big mason jar with the rice.
With the jar, you want to include a list of ingredients that are needed to be added along with the instructions for making this Dump and Done Instant Pot Recipe. If you want, you could even include a can of chickpeas in the gift bag. There you are: you basically just gifted an amazing dinner or easy lunch that comes together in minutes. Trust me, people will call to let you know how delicious it was.
You can copy and paste the instructions from the blog or, write them out yourself. Handwritten always feels more special.
About the recipe: This curried chickpea fried rice can be made within minutes using an Instant Pot. You can also make it in a saucepan. Instructions are in the notes.
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Recipe Card
Curried Chickpea Fried Rice in a Jar for Gifting ( Dump and Done Instant Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
To add to the jar:
- 1 1/2 cups (280 g) white basmati rice
For the spices:
- 1 tablespoon onion flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt You can leave the salt out so people can decide how much they want to add
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne or Indian red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning, optional or add 1/4 teaspoon oregano and 1/4 teaspoon sage
- generous pinches of ground clove and nutmeg, optional
For the rest of the ingredients:
- 15 ounce (425.24 g) can of chickpeas
- 1 3/4 cups (414.03 ml) of water or vegetable broth or use 1 cup water/broth and 1 cup light coconut milk
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups (273 g) of chopped quick cooking vegetables of choice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari ,optional
Instructions
- You need 1 large quart size mason jar and a smaller jar for the spices for this jar gift. We keep the rice and spices separate so that the rice can be washed before using.
- Add the rice to the large mason jar. To the smaller jar, add all of the spices, and salt if using, and close the lid. (You can add 2-3 teaspoons of your favorite curry powder or garam masala instead of all of the spices) . Add this spice jar to the larger jar.
- Gift this large jar with a can of chickpeas or any other beans that you want to gift with. Tie up some bows, write the instructions, and gift it.
- To use this jar, take the small jar out of the larger jar. Empty the rice into a bowl. Add some water and wash the rice, drain, add more water and soak for at least 15 minutes.
- Open up the can of chickpeas. Drain and wash them and set aside.
- Oil your instant pot really well then add in your drained rice. Add all of the spices. Add the chickpeas. You can add in your chopped vegetables and soy sauce if using. I like to use a mix of carrots, peas, peppers, beans. You can also add in 1 or 2 chopped tomato if you like. Then add in the water and mix really well.
- If you want the rice to be really separate then 1 3/4 cup is the amount the water you want to use. The rice will be fluffy like fried rice. If you want it to be softer, then use 2 cups of water.
- Mix really well then close the lid and pressure cook for 6 minutes. Then let the pressure release for 8 minutes and then quick release.
- Fluff up the rice really well and then remove the inner pot from the instant pot because the plate at the bottom stays hot and it will keep cooking the rice and can overcook the rice.
- Serve with some non dairy yogurt or chutneys of choice or any of Dals or curries.
Notes
- You can also make this into a quinoa-fried rice jar. The cooking time for quinoa will be 3 minutes
- Saucepan: After soaking and Draining the rice, add the rice and the rest of the ingredients to a saucepan. Add 3 cups of water. Mix really well. Cover and cook at low heat for 18 to 20 minutes.
To get the bonus, enter email and order number on the email sign up box on the Book page here and instantly get bonus materials. You need to do this only once. Other bonuses till release will keep dropping into your email automatically.
Nutrition
Ingredients:
- white basmati rice
- For the spices, I like a mix of onion flakes, garlic powder, salt , bay leaves, ground coriander, cumin, paprika, cayenne or Indian red chili powder, ground cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, and cinnamon
- for an especially flavorful fried rice, add in some poultry seasoning, ground clove, and nutmeg
- To make this dish, you need a can of chickpeas, water or vegetable broth, and chopped vegetables
- a bit of soy sauce makes a great addition and makes this taste like restaurant-style fried rice
Tips:
- you can use Indian red chili powder instead of cayenne
- white beans or kidney beans can be used instead of chickpeas
- You can also make this into a quinoa-fried rice jar. The cooking time for quinoa will be 3 minutes
How to make Instant Pot Curried Chickpea Fried Rice
To use this jar, take the small jar out of the larger jar. Empty the rice into a bowl. Add some water and wash the rice, drain, add more water and soak for at least 15 minutes.
Open up the can of chickpeas. Drain and wash them and set aside.
Oil your instant pot really well then add in drained rice. Add all of the spices. Add the chickpeas. You can add in your chopped vegetables and soy sauce if using. I like to use a mix of carrots, peas, peppers, beans. You can also add in some chopped tomato if you like. 1 or 2 chopped tomatoes. Then add in the water and mix in.
If you want the rice to be really separate then that’s the amount the water you want to use. If you want it to be slightly softer, then use 2 cups of water.
Mix really well then close the lid and pressure cook for 6 minutes. Then let the pressure release for 8 minutes and then quick release.
Fluff up the rice really well and then remove the inner pot from the instant pot because the plate at the bottom stays hot and it will keep cooking the rice and can overcook the rice.
Serve with some non dairy yogurt, Raita or chutneys of choice or any of Dals or curries.
You can also make this into a quinoa-fried rice jar. The cooking time for quinoa will be 3 minutes
How to assemble the jars:
You need 1 large quart size mason jar and a smaller jar to fit the spices for this.
Add the rice to the large mason jar. To the smaller jar, add all of the spices and salt if using and close the lid. Add this to the larger jar.
To your gift set, you can add a can of chickpeas or any other beans that you want to gift with the rice mix in a jar. Tie up some bows, write the instructions, and gift it!
Sheila Beckham
Please tell me if this can be cooked the slow way on a stove top. It looks delicious!!!
Vegan Richa Support
Yes it can
Valerie
I love this as a gift idea. Instructions for stove-top would be wonderful as I and my elder friends don’t use instant pot.
Vegan Richa Support
yes! it’s a perfect and unique gift!
Stephanie Wibowo
I followed the recipe and used an instant pot however I ended up getting the “burning” sign and the instant pot didn’t pressurize. The rice was cooked and was still edible and tasted fine but I had some burned rice in the bottom. Is there a way to prevent burning on the bottom?
Richa
Some pots heat unevenly. Add a bit more water. Stir everything really well. That should help.
Daljit Chawla
Can I just get instant pot recipes instead of saucepan recipe’s. I also have XL power air fryer
Richa
Get my instant pot cookbook! Veganricha.com/vrip
Aroma
Wow, this food is amazing!, I really like your recipe, and the ingredients you used are fantastic. You may also visit our website-
https://aromaofmykitchen.com/
Sandra Garnett
Hi Richa
I don’t have an instant pot – in fact, I’ve only just head of it via your website. I think it’s a modern pressure cooker. Would it be possible to cook your fabulous rice dishes in a rice cooker? Regards, Sandra
Vegan Richa Support
I haven’t tried that but let me know how it turns out – you would neeed longer time
Willow
Hello! This looks delicious, I plan to try. We eat whole-food-plant-based without added oil, so this seems it should work okay as there is liquid to start with. Would you advise adjusting the cooking time if I use brown basmati rice instead of white? Thanks!
Also, I was super happy to discover you have some no-oil recipes on your site. This is such a welcome find, as we love Indian food, but it’s hard to find recipes that don’t require oil. Thank you very much!
Richa
Time will be 20-22 mins for brown basmati rice. The veggies will overcook, so don’t add them
KM
We made the saucepan version and this turned out beautifully. Gotta love a recipe that doesn’t call for “curry powder”; this has a lovely balance of spices and is very flavourful. It’s also super easy and perfect for a quick and tasty weeknight meal.
Thanks for the recipe!
Vegan Richa Support
no shortcuts sometimes & perfect homemade food gift
Stephanie Sansoucie
I made this recipe tonight, and it’s a keeper. We’re likely to add this one to our regular rotation. I’m sure it would make a fine gift, but this time the gift is all mine. I just love dump and go recipes on busy days like today!
We love big flavor in our household, so I added in all of those optional spices. I also used “no chicken” broth in lieu of water. For added vegetables, I used what I had handy–fresh green beans and mini peppers.
Not only do I give this a big thumbs up, but my boyfriend does as well.
Thanks for another winner, Richa!
Vegan Richa Support
mini 🌶 so cute
Christine @ RunPlantBased.com
This looks wonderful and I can’t wait to try this. Thanks!
Vegan Richa Support
can’t wait to hear what you think
Nicole A Spinelli
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your recipes. I am SO looking forward to making this ❤
Richa
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Shelley Seely
Where’s the curry seasoning? This looks good. I don’t have an instant pot, but I’d make in a sauce pan.
Richa
The spices together make the curry powder. I use individual spices as some brand curry powders are just badly balanced, you can sub the spices with 2-3 tsp favorite curry powder or just add 1 tsp curry powder in addition to the listed spices.
Courtney
Hello!! This is something I would love to gift my dad for Christmas. Problem is, he doesn’t have an Instant Pot. Do you have instructions for over the stove?
Richa
Yes see saucepan note in the notes below the recipe