Your Instant Pot makes this rich and creamy risotto with chicken, gorgonzola, and pistachios in about 15 minutes.
Risotto with Gorgonzola and Pistachios is a reworking of a dish that I like to make for company and special occasions. Using arborio rice and cooking it in the Instant Pot makes short work of something that used to take more time. The original recipe, Chicken with Gorgonzola and Pistachios, is cream-based and served over noodles.
My good friend, Chef John Farion CWC, gave me the original recipe. John was of Ukranian descent. As I was researching April Fool’s Day, I found out that the day is an official city holiday that is celebrated with a festival in Odessa, Ukraine. Considering that John was Ukrainian and he gave me the original recipe, I couldn’t think of a better way to honor him. I know somewhere in heaven, he’s licking his lips.
Why Use an Instant Pot?
There are a lot of things that an *Instant Pot does very well, and risotto is one of them. If you are on the fence about getting one and you like risotto, this is a very good reason to get one. When you make rice in a conventional pot on the stove, you have to add almost five times the amount of liquid because arborio rice absorbs more than long grain rice. Because the Instant Pot is a closed system, no moisture escapes which means less liquid and no babysitting!
About that Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola is an Italian cheese very similar to blue cheese. It has a milder flavor. If you cannot find it, you can substitute blue cheese, as I do in the original recipe above. I would not recommend Roquefort, however, because it would be too strong.
What Kind of Wine?
The wine used for this dish should be a dry white wine. I recommend Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, or Chenin Blanc. Use whichever dry white wine you like to drink.
What about Nut Allergens?
The pistachios in this dish add a lot of flavor. If you or a guest are allergic to nuts, then don’t include them while preparing the dish. Serve them as a side for those who want to partake.
What to Serve with this
It’s a rich and creamy dish so you would want a simple vegetable. I think that steamed green beans, carrots, broccoli, or brussels sprouts make an excellent side dish. Just steam the vegetable and add a little butter and salt before serving. Of course, white wine, whichever one you used to make the risotto.
Email Me the Recipe
Risotto with Gorgonzola and Pistachios in the Instant Pot
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into one-inch pieces
- ¼ cup pistachios, shelled
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon shallot, minced
- 1 cup mushroom, sliced
- 1 tablespoon white wine
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- ¼ cup white wine
- 1 ¼ cup water, boiling
- 1 teaspoon *chicken base
- 2 tablespoon gorgonzola, crumbled
- ¼ cup cream
Instructions
- Mise en Place
- 1/4 cup pistachiosPut the pistachios in a small saute pan and roast them on the stovetop until they are fragrant are starting to brown. Remove them from the heat. Reserve 6 to 8 pistachios and chop the remainder in a food chopper into rice size pieces. Don't turn them into powder.
- 1 teaspoon chicken base, 1 1/4 cup waterPut the chicken base in a heatproof measuring cup and add a cup and a quarter of boiling water. Stir to create the broth and set it aside.
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butterIf you have an Instant Pot that has a removable inner pot that can go on the stovetop, then put the inner pot on the stovetop, Otherwise, press the Saute and On button. Put a pat of butter in the pot. Let the butter melt.
- 1/2 cup onionAdd the onions and let them start to get translucent.
- 1 tablespoon shallotAdd the shallots. I used Penzey’s freeze-dried shallots, but you are welcome to use fresh shallots if you have them on hand.
- 1 cup mushroom, 1 tablespoon unsalted butterAdd another pat of butter and the mushrooms.
- 1 tablespoon white wineAdd a tablespoon of white wine and saute the mixture.
- 1 pound chicken breastPush the vegetables to the side and add the chicken.
- Saute the chicken so that all sides get a bit cooked. They do not have to be completely cooked because they will be cooked under pressure.
- Add the pistachios you chopped up earlier and saute them.
- 1 cup Arborio riceAdd the rice and saute it so it gets thoroughly coated.
- Remove the pot from the heat or turn off the Instant Pot.
- 1/4 cup white wineWhile the pot is still hot, add the wine.
- Stir and add the broth you made earlier.
- Return the inner pot to the Instant Pot and cover it.
- Set the Instant Pot to Pasta/Rice and choose Risotto. If your Instant Pot doesn’t have that setting, then set it to 8 minutes on high.
- Use natural release which will allow the rice to absorb any remaining liquid.
- 2 tablespoon gorgonzolaRemove the lid and add the cheese and stir to let it melt.
- 1/4 cup creamAdd the cream and stir.
- Put the risotto in a nice serving dish and garnish it with the remaining pistachio nuts. Enjoy!
Although others may not know it, this is the best risotto I have ever made. I didn’t have gorgonzola, I had some nice blue cheese. Based on your comments on the recipe for Chicken with Gorgonzola and Pistachios, I figured it would be fine with blue cheese, and that’s what I used. Just incredible! I made this as a special dinner for my partner and my partner loved it. This is definitely going to be on my special occasion menu. Thanks so much!
I also liked the way that you tied Urkaine into this recipe. I wish I had known Chef John, he sounds like a wonderful person. I share your prayers.
I live in a historical structure with a big bay window, and I like to look out onto the bay while I’m having my dinner. This risotto was so delicious, it made me feel like I was on a cruise ship exploring the world. Good stuff with a glass of wine!
Thank you for your support of Ukraine.