This Recipe includes
Main ingredients:
| Arborio rice |
| Fresh mushrooms |
| Parmesan cheese |
| Bacon, lardons, or smoked ham |
| Butter |
Spices, herbs and flavoring ingredients:
| Beef stock |
| Garlic powder or flakes |
| (Optional) Dry white wine * |
| Salt and pepper |
Substitutes for the wine:
| Lemon juice |
| Grape juice |
Why we love it
A classic risotto is the perfect dish if you are looking for a comforting meal that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. And if you are making it in the Instant pot, it is easier than ever. Just put all the ingredients in, and turn it on.
The original recipe may come from Italy, but here in France it has become popular enough to adopt as our own. With a touch of onion, bacon lardons, mushrooms and wine, it is a quick weeknight dinner idea that can even be prepared in advance, to heat up before serving. So without further ado, let’s get cooking, shall we? Allons-y!
Risotto alternatives and cooking without alcohol
The traditional recipe for a risotto has white wine it it. The cooking time is meant to assure that any alcohol has long been cooked off. Nevertheless, for various reasons you may not want to cook with alcohol.
If you don’t want add white wine, you can add that slight touch of tanginess by mixing in a bit of grape juice and lemon juice. Add about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 6 tablespoons of grape juice.
In addition, for a French-style risotto, I generally add bacon lardons into the risotto. Lardons are small enough to cook in the instant pot during the risotto cooking time, but if you substitute it for Canadian bacon or pancetta, I recommend browning it lightly beforehand. (No one wants uncooked bacon!)
You can also choose to add smoked ham, if you don’t want to take the extra step of cooking it, or leave it out entirely. I sometimes add a handful of fresh spinach as well, to get the recommended dose of veggies in.
What to serve with it?
You can serve risotto as a side dish with baked chicken or fish, or even lamb chops. It can also be served as a main dish with a side salad. For a starter, try tomatoes à la provençale for contrasting flavors.
What drinks to serve with it?
A risotto will pair wonderfully with a fresh white wine like the Reisling from Alsace or the Gewurztraminer. If you prefer red wines, try a red from Burgundy which has lower tannins. You can read more about French wines here.
How to store it?
If you want to freeze a risotto, I recommend doing so before you add the parmesan cheese. Let it cool completely and place it in an airtight glass container, and it should last a couple of months.
French risotto in Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups uncooked arborio rice
- 1 medium sliced onion
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pack of bacon lardons or smoked ham
- 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (white or button mushrooms)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 cups of beef stock
- pinch of garlic powder
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to the instant pot, except for the parmesan cheese.
- Set the instant pot to cook for on high for 6 minutes.
- Let it natural release when it finishes and beeps.
- Open the instant pot carefully and stir the risotto.
- Add in the parmesan cheese and stir. (If there is too much water, turn on the Sauté function for a few minutes and stir.)
- Serve while warm.
Notes
Nutrition
If you enjoyed that, check out our other classic French recipes that are easy to prepare. Bon appétit and à bientôt !
