Restaurant quality risotto can be yours in under 30 minutes with this easy Instant Pot Risotto. Cooking risotto in the pressure cooker takes away all of the usual guesswork. This basic risotto recipe results in an anything but basic dish - bite tender, ultra creamy risotto that's perfect for any occasion.
Press the Saute function and allow the inner pot to heat up. Add the olive oil, heat it until it shimmers, then add the onion. Saute the onions, stirring occasionally, until soft, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Add the arborio rice and toss to coat in the fat with the onions. Saute the rice 2 minutes, or until very fragrant and chalky white in appearance.
Add the white wine to deglaze the pot; scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot and continue to saute until the wine has been absorbed, about 3 minutes.
Press the Cancel button. Add the broth and stir to combine, then top with fresh thyme.
Secure the lid and ensure the pressure valve is set to Sealing. Press the Pressure Cook Button, adjust to High Pressure, and set the timer for 5 minutes. Once the time goes off, do a quick release for the pressure. Allow the pressure to release until the float valve has dropped.
Remove the lid from the pressure cooker, then fish out the thyme stems (leave the leaves). Add butter and one-third of the parmesan cheese, then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add another third of the parmesan cheese, folding until the cheese melts into the risotto; then add the last third of cheese and stir until completely smooth. Taste for seasoning and add pepper to taste and salt if needed (parmesan is salty, so you may need none). Garnish with fresh thyme if desired and serve immediately.
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Notes
Arborio rice is a must for risotto.
Don't rinse the rice. Unlike other rice preparation in the instant pot (or elsewhere) you need the starchy residue from the rice to achieve the right consistency.
Allow the wine to fully absorb for best flavor.
Finely grate the parmesan cheese - a microplane will yield superior results, but the smallest holes on a box grater also work well.