The Best Instant Pot Pumpkin Risotto Recipe

Instant pot pumpkin risotto is super quick and simple, perfect for those days when time gets away from you! This satisfying combination of pumpkin puree, arborio rice, sage and walnuts is ready in twenty minutes, and it’s vegan, too.

Why This Recipe Is Awesome

You’ll love this instant pot pumpkin risotto recipe for so many reasons! It’s:

• Quick to prepare. As this pumpkin risotto is made in a pressure cooker, it’s much quicker than making a risotto on the stovetop - which can be time consuming.
• Easy to make. Unlike some risotto recipes, there isn’t much to go wrong. You’re guaranteed delicious results every time.
• Tasty! The flavors of the fresh sage and walnuts complement the sweetness of the pumpkin puree wonderfully.
• Satisfying. The combination of arborio rice and pumpkin is a good mix of fiber and carbohydrates, and with the protein from the walnuts you’re guaranteed a filling meal.
• Made from store cupboard staples. This recipe is made from ingredients that keep for a long time, so you can keep them in stock ready for those weeks where there just isn’t time to go to the store. 
• Packed full of immune system boosting nutrients. Pumpkin is a bit of a superstar. It’s low-calorie while also containing a huge amount of nutrients, in particular Vitamin A.
• Vegan and gluten-free. A crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

To make instant pot pumpkin risotto, you will need:

• Olive oil or butter. Butter will give the risotto a creamier texture. If you want your risotto to be vegan, use olive oil or substitute the butter for vegan butter.
• Onion. Peeled and finely chopped.
• Garlic. Peeled and finely chopped.
• Fresh sage leaves. You can use dried sage if you don’t have fresh, but fresh sage will give you a more robust flavor.
• Pumpkin puree (canned). Using a can is a real time saver!
• Arborio rice. Arborio rice is perfect for risotto because it absorbs the flavors around it. It also takes on the creamy texture that is characteristic of risotto once cooked.
• Raw walnuts. The walnuts add an extra dimension to the flavor and texture. Delicious.
• Parmesan or vegan alternative (optional). Sprinkle over the top before you serve.

How To Make Instant Pot Pumpkin Risotto

1. First, press the saute button on the electric pressure cooker. Then, add your oil (or butter), onion and garlic to the cooker.
2. Saute for five minutes until the onion has gone soft and slightly translucent. Be sure to keep the onion and garlic moving, so they don’t burn or stick to the pan.
3. After five minutes, add the fresh sage and cook for another two minutes. Again, stir frequently. 
4. Next, add the pumpkin puree, salt and arborio rice along with the water. Cook everything on high pressure for six minutes.
5. While your risotto is cooking, toast the walnuts in a skillet over medium heat for around five minutes. Take them off the heat when they smell like they are toasting, or go slightly darker. Make sure you stir the walnuts often to keep them from catching.
6. Once the risotto has cooked, quick release the pressure and stir well. It’s essential to use the quick release function; otherwise, the rice will cook for too long.
7. Serve topped with toasted walnuts and a sprinkle of vegetarian or vegan parmesan if you’re using it.

What To Serve With Pumpkin Risotto

This pumpkin risotto is gorgeous served on its own or with a simple salad. Try it with this Mediterranean cucumber salad if you want to make your mealtime something special!

It’s also fantastic with a hunk of crusty buttered bread on the side. So if you’re feeling in the mood for baking, why not give this gluten free sourdough bread a go. It’s fluffy on the inside while still maintaining a lovely crust, and it's gluten free, too!

Cooking Tips

Water to rice ratio for risotto

As with other kinds of rice, the perfect water to rice ratio for arborio rice is 2:1, which means that for every one cup of rice, you’ll need two cups of water. Bear this in mind if you want to scale this recipe up or down.

Washing risotto rice

It’s preferable not to wash arborio rice before using it because your rice needs to have a slightly sticky consistency. The characteristic sticky texture of arborio rice comes from the starch, which you lose if you wash it.

A Few Notes

Choosing your pumpkin puree

When you’re buying your pumpkin puree, be sure to choose a brand that contains only pumpkin and no other added spices or sweeteners. Adding sweet pumpkin to your risotto won’t taste good, and if you want to see the nutritional benefits, then pure pumpkin is the way to go.

Substitutions

If you don’t have any walnuts, you can substitute them for another kind of nut - just be sure to choose unsalted nuts. Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts and pecans all work well.

You could also try making this recipe with squash rather than pumpkin; butternut squash puree is widely available and tastes similar to pumpkin puree. The main difference is that butternut squash is a little sweeter than pumpkin.

Other Instant Pot Risotto Recipes You Might Enjoy

If you enjoy this instant pot pumpkin risotto, be sure to try this simple pesto risotto. You can make it in a pressure cooker or on the stovetop, and the flavors are amazing!

You might also like this pumpkin baked oatmeal.