Risotto is renowned as a comforting, classic Italian dish. But its reputation for being fussy and high-maintenance has prevented many a home cook from attempting it at all, let alone for a weeknight dinner. Risotto must be sufficiently saucy but not soupy; it requires frequent stirring for half an hour; and needs to be eaten immediately once ready because it starts to solidify minutes later.
When I told a neighbor I was working on a risotto recipe, he said, “That’s what either sinks every cooking show contestant or delivers them a win.” I can’t seem to manage my time to include regular television-watching, so I’ll take his word for it.
To make risotto, you need a short-grain rice, such as arborio (most easily found), carnaroli (often preferred by chefs and referred to as the “caviar of rice”) or vialone nano, though Spanish bomba rice often used for paella and sushi rice also can work well. Short-grain rice, because of its higher starch content, tends to absorb less liquid, and allows for a creamy porridge to form. Because you want as much starch as possible for the creamiest result, you do not rinse the rice.
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So how does one make risotto a weeknight indulgence with minimal effort?
Enter the mighty Instant Pot. While the traditional risotto recipe requires ample hands-on time, the pressure cooker method is its polar opposite. Saute a few ingredients for several minutes, toast the rice, add the liquid, seal and walk away.
Not accounting for the time it takes for the machine to come to pressure (which can take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes), the risotto, once sealed, takes 6 minutes to cook — just enough time to pour yourself a glass of wine and throw together a quick salad for a meal that balances your carb intake with some crunchy vegetables.
You’ll find differing opinions online and in books on the best way to approach this expedited method. Some prefer to warm up their broth before adding it to the rice, but I’ve always used it at room temperature (or from the fridge) and have never run into any trouble. If you’re familiar with the traditional method of making risotto, remember that making it in a pressure cooker means you need about half as much broth (think 4 cups of broth for about 2 cups of rice in the Instant Pot versus the typical 8 cups of broth for the same amount of rice if cooked on the stove top). The pressure cooker doesn’t allow for evaporation, so it requires less liquid.
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The Instant Pot risotto has become my family’s regular go-to weeknight dinner in a pinch. When I feel like I can’t muster much of a meal, I throw this together and minutes later we’re sitting down for dinner. Our favorite version is one with peas and Parmesan cheese. I use frozen peas (because I always have a bag on hand), and the heat of the cooked risotto makes them warm and creamy — no defrosting necessary — but still verdant and fresh-tasting.
If I’m feeling fancy, I swap out the peas for a few generous pinches of saffron soaked in a couple of tablespoons of hot water or, with the summer upon us, render some pancetta and stir in fresh corn cut off the cob. In the winter months, when I need a bit of sunshine, I upgrade my risotto with fresh herbs, such as chervil and parsley, and spike the whole thing with fresh lemon juice right before serving.
Even though the meal comes together in minutes, the warm bowl feels both nourishing and luxurious. And in the real-life struggle to get dinner on the table, this risotto always makes me feel like a winner.
Instant Pot Risotto
Where to buy: Arborio, carnaroli, vialone nano, bomba and sushi rice can be found at well stocked supermarkets, specialty markets or online.
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