Instant Pot Risotto Milanese. The classic: a bright yellow Milanese risotto, seasoned with butter, cheese, and saffron, the world's most expensive spice.
When I say “Italy,” what starch pops into your head? Pasta, of course. But, as I found out on my trip to Venice, Italy is much more diverse than the “pizza, pasta, and meatballs” I grew up with. Northern Italy is all about rice. Milan, in Northwest Italy, is famous for fashion - it’s from Milan, dahling - and for bright yellow Risotto alla Milanese, rice colored with a pinch of saffron, the world’s most expensive spice.
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Saffron is made of the stigmas of the saffron crocus flower, three tiny threads in the center of the bulb. These threads must be harvested by hand, and roughly 5,000 flowers yield one ounce of dried saffron threads. The half-gram jar of Saffron I bought for this recipe cost $10.
(That’s right - it’s even more expensive than movie theater popcorn.)
How did Milan become famous for saffron risotto? Well, there’s a great story:
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The legend of Risotto alla Milanese
In the 1600s, Mastro Valerio of Flanders led a team of workmen, creating stained glass windows for the cathedral of Milan. Valerio nicknamed one of his workers “Saffron” because he added a pinch of saffron to the pigments used to color the stained glass. After years of this nickname, Saffron got even. At Valerio’s daughter’s wedding, he convinced the chef to add a little saffron to the risotto. The wedding party thought the mound of bright yellow risotto was a joke - and they were right. But they tried it anyhow, and rice was a hit. The idea spread, and risotto “alla Milanese” was born.
Is this legend true? Probably not - saffron has been used in cooking throughout Eurasia for centuries; nearby Spain uses it in paella, and Bouillabaisse a la Marseillaise demands it. But it’s such a great story. I had to share.
Now, on to cooking the risotto. Of course I’m using my Instant Pot - pressure cooker risotto was one of the first “killer recipes” I learned when I got my stovetop PC years ago. No carefully stirring in ladles of broth - cooking under pressure releases the starch in the rice, thickening up the dish nicely. And quickly, of course - it’s done with only five minutes under pressure. (For more pressure cooker risotto, see my Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto recipe, Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto, or Instant Pot Risotto with Pork and Cinnamon.)
🥫Ingredients
- Chicken Broth
- Saffron
- Butter
- Onion
- Arborio rice
- Pecorino Romano
See recipe card for quantities.
🥘 Substitutions
You can skip the saffron. It is eye-wateringly expensive. It won’t be authentic Risotto alla Milanese without saffron, but it will still be a good, simple risotto.
Arborio rice is my default for risottos, because it is the easiest one to find at my local grocery stores. I prefer Carnaroli rice for pressure cooker risotto, when I can find it. It stands up to cooking a little better than Arborio or Vialone Nano, and I don’t mind having a little extra cushion when I’m pressure cooking.
If you use store-bought broth, watch out for “regular” chicken broth – it’s loaded with salt. If you can’t find low-sodium chicken broth, use water.
But, please, try homemade chicken broth. If you have an Instant Pot, you will love it.
Grated pecorino Romano is more traditional in this recipe, and tends to be cheaper than grated Parmesan, so that's what I use. But, if you have grated Parmesan, it will work too.
This recipe can be vegetarian if you are OK with butter and cheese; use vegetable broth instead of the chicken broth. (And, again, if you're using store-bought broth, try to find low sodium broth.)
🛠 Equipment
A 6-quart pressure cooker. Pressure Cooker risotto converts a lot of people to pressure cooking - no tedious stirring needed, just a few minutes under pressure.
📏Scaling
This recipe doubles easily in a 6-quart pressure cooker. Cut all the ingredients in half and this recipe will fit in a 3-quart pressure cooker.
💡Tips and Tricks
- Pressure cooking is the key to easy risotto. No need to stir for 30 minutes, carefully ladling broth into the pot. I can lock the lid on my Instant Pot, set it to cook for 5 minutes, and have a fantastic risotto without all the extra work.
- Homemade broth is another key to this recipe. I know, I know, it's extra work. But it is SO GOOD. Make it ahead, freeze it in 2-cup containers, and you'll always be ready to make a fantastic risotto or chicken soup.
Instant Pot Risotto Milanese
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups of rice 1x
Description
Instant Pot Risotto Milanese. The classic: a bright yellow Milanese risotto, seasoned with butter, cheese, and saffron, the world's most expensive spice.
Ingredients
- 4 cups homemade chicken broth (or store-bought low-sodium broth)
- a 2-finger pinch of saffron threads
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, minced
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 cups Arborio rice (or Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (skip if using store-bought low-sodium broth)
- 4 tablespoons butter, cut into 1 tablespoon pieces
- ¼ cup (1 ounce) grated pecorino Romano cheese
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- More grated pecorino Romano cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Steep the saffron in the broth: Warm the chicken broth in the microwave. Stir the saffron threads into the chicken broth and let them soak while mincing and sautéing the onion.
- Sauté the onions and rice: Heat the butter in the pressure cooker pot over medium heat (sauté mode in an Instant Pot) until the butter stops foaming, about 3 minutes. Add the onions to the pot and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt. Sauté, stirring often, until the onions soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it the rice turns translucent at the edges, about 5 minutes.
- Pressure Cook the risotto for 5 minutes with a Quick Pressure Release: Stir in the chicken broth steeped with saffron, and then the ½ teaspoon salt. Lock the lid on the pressure cooker. Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes in an electric pressure cooker (Manual Mode or Pressure Cook for an Instant Pot) or stovetop pressure cooker. Quick release the pressure. Carefully remove the lid, tilting it away from you to avoid the scalding hot steam.
- Stir in butter and cheese: Stir the 4 tablespoons of butter into the rice until it melts, then stir in the grated cheese and fresh ground pepper. Serve, sprinkling with a little extra grated cheese, and enjoy!
Notes
Osso Bucco is the traditional Milanese main dish to serve with Risotto alla Milanese - check out the recipe below.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
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☃️ Storage
According to the USDA, Leftover risotto is good for up to three days in the refrigerator, or three months in the freezer, as long as it is refrigerated (or frozen) within an hour of cooking. (I portion out my rice in 2-cup containers before I put it in the fridge or freezer.) Also, be sure to reheat the rice all the way through - to be precise, an instant read thermometer should read 165°F in the middle of the rice.
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My other Pressure Cooker Recipes
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Amy N says
Amazing how simple and quick this is to make. The end result is as good, if not better, than what our favorite Venetian restaurant in Beverly Hills serves. I’ve been using this recipe for several years and it never disappoints! Do make sure to use high quality saffron and Arborio for best results. I’ve actually even used Italian pearled Farro instead of Arborio rice and it is fabulous as well for something a little more healthy.
Mike: you are my “go to” for Rancho Gordo bean recipes in the IP - i only trust your cook time recommendations! Thank you for your efforts!
Mike Vrobel says
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it! (And like my bean recipes!)
Joy says
I I ate my first Risotto aLa Milanese at a small restaurant next to our hotel near Milano Centrale. I fell in love with it the moment I took the first bite. I have tried several times to make it and I have always been disappointed with the result. Your recipe is so easy to prepare and it is absolutely wonderful.
I wanted to thank you so much for sharing. I am transported back to Milano every time I prepare it. It is fool proof. I use parmesan when I cook it because the risotto I had in Milan was prepared using parmesan. I will eventually get around to trying it with the pecorino Romano. I am using saffron I brought back from a trip to Egypt in January. It was harvested in Syria and is the best saffron I have ever tried. The price was a steal so I purchased a fair amount. I keep it in the freezer to extend its shelf life.
Thanks once again.
Jeannie Pfoh says
Is it ok to halve the recipe?
Mike Vrobel says
Yes, it should work
Karen Gonzalez says
Thank you, this recipe is fabulous!
Mike Vrobel says
Thanks!
Kristen says
Made this for Valentine's dinner topped with pan-seared sea scallops and it was...perfect! I worked in a Northern Italian restaurant for years where risotto was a big deal, so I was a little nervous to (gasp) use a pressure cooker--but I am sold!! No reason to end up a steamy mess with a sore arm by the time you sit down to dinner! Thank you!!
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner.com says
You’re welcome!
Louise from Montreal says
Fabulous risotto!!! Thank you!
Was horrified when I opened the lid: the rice seemed to be "bathing" in liquid. But, as I continued the recipe, everything turned out perfect.