• Roast the pumpkin : Roast a small pumpkin until it’s tender. Scoop out the flesh and blend it until smooth to create your pumpkin puree. This step adds a natural sweetness and a vibrant orange hue to your risotto. ( skip this step if you are using ready made puree)
• In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onions, sage and minced garlic. Keep sautéing until they become translucent and fragrant. Add the seasoning.
• Add the Arborio rice to the pan and stir well, allowing the rice to toast slightly. Pour in the dry white wine and stir until it’s mostly absorbed by the rice. This process helps deglaze the pan and infuses the risotto with a subtle acidity that balances the sweetness of the pumpkin.
• Gradual Addition of Broth : Begin adding the broth to the rice one ladle at a time, stirring continuously. Allow each ladle of broth to be absorbed before adding the next. This slow addition and stirring process is crucial for achieving the creamy consistency of the risotto.
• Incorporate Pumpkin Puree : When the rice is almost cooked, add the pumpkin puree to the risotto. Continue stirring until the pumpkin is well incorporated.
• Finish with Butter and Parmesan and garnishes: Once the rice is cooked to al dente and the pumpkin is well blended, stir in the unsalted butter and grated Parmesan cheese. These final additions contribute to the luxurious creaminess and savory depth of the risotto. Garnish with roasted pumpkin cubes, toasted pumpkin seeds and fried sage leaves ( optional but highly recommend all three ) Enjoy !

How to make Instant Pot Pumpkin Risotto

• Set the Instant Pot to Sautee and warm up the olive oil and butter. When they are warm sauté the onion and garlic for a few minutes. Add the sage and sauté for a few seconds.
• Add the rice and the wine . Keep sautéing for 2 minutes. Add the broth, pumpkin purée, and salt and pepper and seasoning. Close the lid and set it to 7 minutes on High Pressure (Manual pressure).
• Once it’s done cooking, use natural pressure release for 5 minutes. Then release the rest of the pressure manually. Open the lid. Give it a gentle stir to mix everything well. Finish with garnishes as suggested above. Serve and enjoy !