Pressure cooker (or Instant Pot) shrimp and asparagus risotto with mushrooms {gluten-free}

It's the most wonderful time of the year here in New England, when asparagus spears poke their pointy little heads through the ground in a burst of energy they've been saving up all winter. What could be more energetic, more optimistic, than to push yourself up toward the sun... only to be chopped off and devoured by eager cooks? Oh dear. While it might not be the perfect ending for the asparagus, the glorious six-week season is a joy to the rest of us. I'm so in love with asparagus that I've been collecting recipes on my Asparagus! Pinterest board, and now it's time to get cooking. One of my recent successes, this pressure cooker shrimp and asparagus risotto recipe -- gluten-free, too -- is quick and easy to make in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot (though you could easily adapt it for the stovetop, using this recipe as a guide). The rice cooks under pressure for just six minutes, and you finish the risotto by hand, which ensures it will be just as creamy, buttery and cheesy as you like it.

Pressure cooker (or Instant Pot) shrimp and asparagus risotto with mushrooms

From the pantry, you'll need: arborio rice, olive oil, onion, chicken broth, frozen shrimp, butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, fresh black pepper.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil
1 small red or yellow onion, diced
1-1/2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup sliced cremini or white button mushrooms
1/2 cup dry white wine
3-1/2 cups chicken broth (I use low-sodium store-bought broth), warmed for 1 minute in a microwave
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup chopped asparagus
3/4 lb large shrimp, defrosted if frozen, peeled and deveined
Heaping 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

Directions

Note: I use an Instant Pot or 6-quart electric pressure cooker, so if you have another type, you'll have to make some adjustment in the recipe.

Set the pressure cooker to Browning, and heat the oil. Stir in the onion, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Add the rice and the mushrooms, and cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes, until the rice is coated with the oil and very lightly browning. Pour in the wine, which will bubble immediately. Stir for 1 minute, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Then add the chicken broth all at once.

Lock the top. Set on High Pressure for 6 minutes. It helps to set your own timer when the pot comes to full pressure, so you'll know when the cook time ends.

When the cooker switches to Keep Warm, immediately Quick Release the pressure. After the pressure indicator drops, remove the top.

Switch the cooker to Browning. Stir in the butter and asparagus. Cook for 1 minute, then add the shrimp.

Cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes, and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in the cheese, vigorously, to melt the cheese and distribute it throughout the risotto.

Turn off the pot, and serve the risotto immediately. Any risotto that sits in the pot will begin to thicken as it cools.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More risotto variations:
Lemon and pea risotto
Risotto with pesto, peas and pine nuts
Three mushroom risotto
Risotto alla Milanese

Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Stuffed tomatoes with arborio rice and shrimp, from Lindaraxa
Shrimp scampi with parmesan risotto, from Gimme Some Oven
Shrimp and pea risotto, from Table for Two
Shrimp bisque, from Closet Cooking
Creamy crockpot risotto, from A Year of Slow Cooking

Pressure cooker (or Instant Pot) shrimp and asparagus risotto with mushrooms

From the pantry, you'll need: arborio rice, olive oil, onion, chicken broth, frozen shrimp, butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, fresh black pepper.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil
1 small red or yellow onion, diced
1-1/2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup sliced cremini or white button mushrooms
1/2 cup dry white wine
3-1/2 cups chicken broth (I use low-sodium store-bought broth), warmed for 1 minute in a microwave
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup chopped asparagus
3/4 lb large shrimp, defrosted if frozen, peeled and deveined
Heaping 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

Directions

Note: I use an Instant Pot or 6-quart electric pressure cooker, so if you have another type, you'll have to make some adjustment in the recipe.

Set the pressure cooker to Browning, and heat the oil. Stir in the onion, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Add the rice and the mushrooms, and cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes, until the rice is coated with the oil and very lightly browning. Pour in the wine, which will bubble immediately. Stir for 1 minute, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Then add the chicken broth all at once.

Lock the top. Set on High Pressure for 6 minutes. It helps to set your own timer when the pot comes to full pressure, so you'll know when the cook time ends.

When the cooker switches to Keep Warm, immediately Quick Release the pressure. After the pressure indicator drops, remove the top.

Switch the cooker to Browning. Stir in the butter and asparagus. Cook for 1 minute, then add the shrimp.

Cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes, and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in the cheese, vigorously, to melt the cheese and distribute it throughout the risotto.

Turn off the pot, and serve the risotto immediately. Any risotto that sits in the pot will begin to thicken as it cools.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More risotto variations:
Lemon and pea risotto
Risotto with pesto, peas and pine nuts
Three mushroom risotto
Risotto alla Milanese

Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Stuffed tomatoes with arborio rice and shrimp, from Lindaraxa
Shrimp scampi with parmesan risotto, from Gimme Some Oven
Shrimp and pea risotto, from Table for Two
Shrimp bisque, from Closet Cooking
Creamy crockpot risotto, from A Year of Slow Cooking

Comments

One of the things I miss most since I started focusing on low-glycemic eating is risotto! I love the sound of this so much. The arborio rice is out for me, but I'd love to try making barley risotto or just a rice dish with a less starch rice with these same ingredients. And I would say you have really mastered the pressure cooker!

Kalyn, I have you to thank for pushing me into the world of pressure cooking! I'm slowly discovering what it's really good for, and risotto (which is a very occasional treat for me, too) is one of those things.

I love your description of the asparagus cycle - like some kind of Italian Opera! all happy and tragic at the same time!

I tried the artichoke and shrimp risotto from this website, liked it and shared with a friend who said it might be her favorite meal ever. Then I tried this one. This was spectacular. Company food for sure. Everything about it was delicious. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. This may become a staple in our home.

Oh my gosh! This is the first thing I made in my new instapot! It turned out amazing. I’ve never made risotto before either. Huge fan of both, highly recommended. Thanks for sharing.