Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Risotto

  

Risotto is a classic Italian dish made with rice, broth, and cheese. It's known for its creamy texture and rich flavor. But traditional risotto can take a while to cook, requiring constant stirring by the pot.  That's where the Instant Pot comes in!  This amazing kitchen appliance can make creamy and delicious risotto in a fraction of the time.

 

Why Use an Instant Pot for Risotto?

 

The Instant Pot is a lifesaver for busy home cooks.  Here's why it's perfect for risotto:

 

Faster Cooking Time: Risotto traditionally requires constant stirring over low heat to achieve a creamy texture. The Instant Pot pressure cooks the rice, eliminating the need for constant attention.

Hands-Off Cooking: Once you add the ingredients to the Instant Pot, you can walk away and let it do its work. This frees you up to prepare other parts of your meal.

Perfect Results Every Time: The Instant Pot takes the guesswork out of cooking risotto. No more worrying about overcooked or undercooked rice.

Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Risotto Recipe

 

This recipe is a delicious twist on classic risotto, featuring the flavors of fresh tomato and basil.

 

Ingredients:

 

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup Arborio rice

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

 

Set your Instant Pot to the "Sauté" function. Heat the olive oil in the pot. Add the onion and cook until softened about 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Add the Arborio rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

Add the white wine and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 2 minutes.

Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juices and the chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper.

Cancel the "Sauté" function and close the lid of the Instant Pot, ensuring the valve is set to "Sealing."

Pressure cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.

Once the cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Then, carefully release any remaining pressure manually.

Open the lid and stir in the Parmesan cheese and basil leaves. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips for Making Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Risotto

 

Use Arborio rice: This type of rice is essential for achieving the creamy texture of risotto. Arborio rice has a high starch content, which is released during cooking and creates a creamy sauce.

Don't skimp on the cheese: Cheese is what makes risotto so decadent and flavorful. Use good quality Parmesan cheese for the best results.

Fresh is best: Fresh basil adds a lovely brightness to this dish. If you don't have fresh basil, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried basil.

Adjust the consistency: If your risotto is too thick, stir in a little more broth or water until it reaches the desired consistency.

Experiment with flavors: This recipe is a great starting point, but you can easily customize it to your liking. Try adding other vegetables, such as peas or mushrooms, or different herbs, such as rosemary or thyme.

With the Instant Pot, you can enjoy delicious and creamy risotto any night of the week. So ditch the traditional stovetop method and give this Instant Pot recipe a try!

 

I hope you enjoy this blog post. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about this recipe or Instant Pot cooking in general.