Shrimp Risotto Instant Pot

Shrimp Risotto Instant Pot is a a quick version of the traditional Italian Risotto best suited for busy lives. Made with Arborio Rice, butter, parmesan, white wine shrimp and peas - this restaurant quality risotto is huge on flavors. It's creamy, velvety texture with toothy rice is so impressive!

What is Shrimp Risotto?

Shrimp Risotto is a traditional Italian creamy Rice dish made with short grained Arborio rice that's high on starch content and shrimp.

Risotto is often flavored with wine, shallots, parmesan cheese and butter. Variations may include veggies like mushrooms, peas, asparagus etc. It's one of the most common ways of cooking rice back in Italy.

What is Shrimp Risotto made of?

Find the Ingredients with actual measurements at the bottom of the post. The list below is just a reference.

• Arborio Rice: Also known as Risotto Rice. It's a must in this recipe for it's high starch content. The high starch content of the short grain Arborio rice makes the Risotto super creamy and velvety in texture. If cooked right the risotto never turns out stiff or gluey! DO NOT sub the Arborio with any other rice.
• Shrimp: We used frozen and thawed de-shelled and de-veined shrimp. You can use either Tiger shrimp, Colossal, Jumbo or extra large. We used extra large shrimp for the recipe.
• Shallots: Shallots goes very well in risotto dishes. It's delicate, sweet flavor with a subtle sharpness makes the dish so flavorful.
• Garlic.
• White Wine: This is a must in the recipe. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and unoaked Chardonnay are our favorites. However, you can use any crisp, dry and unoaked white wine.
• Butter
• Black Pepper: Crushed.
• Parmesan Cheese: You can use either pre-shredded parmesan or grate a block of cheese.
• Dairy: Heavy whipping Cream. It boosts the creaminess of the risotto. However, you can sub it with milk or half and half if you want to or skip it altogether.
• Chicken Stock: You can use Better than Bouillon paste or cubes diluted in hot water. Makes a great flavorful stock almost instantly.
• Peas: We love to throw in some green peas or sometimes sliced mushrooms in our Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto just to boost the dish with some added veggies. Now, this is totally optional. You can skip adding the peas.
• Optional Garnish: Chopped fresh parsley. We ran out of the herb and hence, today's recipe contains no parsley.

Tips & Tricks

1. The best Risotto rice for Instant Pot: A starchy rice like Arborio. This is the best Risotto rice and the safest to use in the Instant Pot, there are no substituions available. Use a good quality short grain Arborio rice to make that high class restaurant quality super creamy and velvety risotto at home.
2. Velvety, Creamy Risotto texture secret: DO NOT rinse the rice. That's the secret, we want the starch for the recipe, we cannot sacrifice on a single bit of starch here 😀 The starch is a secret to an incredibly creamy and impressive risotto.
3. Risotto Rice Cook time: A perfect risotto is soft, creamy and mounds on a plate. It should never be stiff, gluey or spread on the plate. For creamy Risotto Rice cook it on high pressure for 5 mins followed by quick pressure release.
4. Avoid over cooking shrimp: We hate rubbery chewy shrimp. To prevent that, saute the shrimp for just 1 minute and than add them back to the Pressure cooked risotto. The residual heat will beautifully cook down the shrimp. DO NOT pressure cook the shrimp ever!
5. Best White Wine for Risotto: Pinot Grigio, Unoaked Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc are our favorite picks.
6. Parmesan Cheese: The cheese goes at last. Turn off the Instant Pot before mixing in the cheese.

How to make Shrimp Risotto in Instant Pot?

Find the detailed step by step recipe along with measurements + Video at the bottom of the post.

Step #1 Saute Shrimp

Set the Instant Pot on SAUTE function and set it on NORMAL heat. Add oil and saute the shrimp for just 1 minute or until pink. Set them aside.

Step #2 Saute aromatics & rice

In the same pot add more oil and saute the shallots and the garlic until they turn soft. Add salt to quicken the process. If you feel the heat is too much to handle reduce it to LOW.

Add the Arborio rice (not rinsed) and saute for 2-3 minutes. This is a crucial step and do not skip it.

Step #3 Add liquid & de-glaze pot

Now, add the white wine and cook it down with the rice stirring often until the wine is fully absorbed by the rice. This is a very important step and would determine the consistency and texture of the Risotto, DO NOT skip it!

If you do not have white wine handy you may sub it with equal amount of chicken stock or even water with 1 tablespoon cider vinegar.

Once, the wine is fully absorbed add the chicken stock.

Step #4 Pressure Cook Arborio Rice

Pour the chicken stock and de-glaze the pot very well scraping the sides and the bottom of the pot really well with the help of a spatula. There should not be any food particles stuck at the bottom of the pot.

This is a crucial step and will help prevent the BURN error. DO NOT rush in this step.

CANCEL the SAUTE function. Close the lid of the Instant Pot, seal the valve and PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for just 5 minutes followed by a quick pressure release (QPR) manually.

Step #5 Mix the dairy

Cancel the pressure cook function and hit the KEEP WARM mode.

Add butter sliced in small cubes (easier to incorporate) and heavy whipping cream (read subs above) and gently stir the cooked rice until the butter and the cream blends well.

If you feel that the rice is thirsty at this stage add splashes of water or chicken stock. I would recommend that you add 2 tablespoons liquid at a time, gently stir and add more if needed. I did add few splashes of water.

Step #6 Add Protein, veggies, serve.

Now, add the parmesan cheese, slowly and gently fold it with the rice until the cheese completely melts. Add crushed black pepper according to your taste. You’ll have an amazingly silky, velvety and creamy risotto at this stage.

Finally, transfer back the sautéed shrimp and the thawed green peas and gently mix them with the risotto.

For best flavors and texture serve the Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto immediately. You can garnish with some grated parmesan and freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!

How to reheat Shrimp Risotto?

Reheat Shrimp Risotto with splashes of water or chicken stock.

Microwave Oven Instruction: If re-heating it in the microwave oven sprinkle the risotto with splashes of liquid, stir with a spoon, top with few slices butter and than reheat.

Stove top instruction: Bring some chicken stock or water to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium low, transfer the risotto, than reheat stirring gently from time to time. Add slices of butter at the end and gently fold it in. Avoid over stirring. Serve this Instant Pot Shrimp and Pea Risotto immediately.

Storing Tips

Store the cooked Shrimp Risotto Instant Pot recipe in an air tight container for 2 days in the fridge.

Can you freeze Shrimp Risotto?

No you cannot freeze Risotto. The texture and the consistency of the Risotto completely alters when frozen.

What goes with Shrimp Risotto?

You can serve the following with Shrimp Risotto:

• Steamed Broccoli.
• Steamed carrots (seasoned well).
• Steamed green beans (seasoned well).
• Cheesy Garlic bread.
• Steamed Asparagus (seasoned well).
• A light salad (pick your favorite!).
• A lightly toasted sour dough bread.

What wine goes with Shrimp Risotto?

Shrimp Risotto goes well with almost any aged, full bodied wine. Earthier reds like Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo tastes amazing. Fuller bodies white wines like Pinot Gris and Chardonnay compliments any Risotto ver well.

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