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Instant Pot Vegan Spring Risotto

May 4, 2018 | 10 Comments

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Close up of Instant Pot Vegan Spring Risotto in a bowl

Friends, it’s SPRING!!!!! It’s really here! I’ve spent some green on plants that I hope to keep alive for as long as humanly possible (let’s just say I don’t have the best track record), and some of them may even show up here in future recipe posts. The rest are just pretty. Do you think four different colors of geraniums is too many? Me either. Glad we agree on that.

When spring arrives, that means it’s time for ASPARAGUS. It just seems to be the ambassador of the season, like the signal that it’s time to eat all the green things. But even though it’s spring, I still crave comfort food, so that’s why the asparagus is going to bring the spring to this warm and comforting vegan risotto. And we’re going to make it in the Instant Pot, which makes our lives easier and doesn’t heat up our kitchen very much. Unless you don’t have an Instant Pot, in which case, fear not, because I have included stovetop instructions because I like you and you need risotto too.

Video: Instant Pot Vegan Spring Risotto

Oh, hey, Pass the Plants is now on YouTube!!! I’m so pumped to be bringing you into my kitchen and sharing the recipes with you in video form. I’ve even got a little production crew, and they are kind enough to let me pay them in food (for now), and these last few weeks we’ve encountered pretty much every technical challenge possible. But we’ve had fun, and we persisted despite the roadblocks, and now there are a handful of videos on the channel, including this one!

If YouTube’s not your thing, no worries, I’ve got step-by-step photos below. Or just scroll to the recipe because you’re hungry and risotto’s awaitin’. I won’t be offended in the slightest.

Instant Pot Vegan Spring Risotto

Beth Hornback
Vegan Spring Risotto combines fresh and green asparagus, earthy mushrooms, tender chickpeas, and creamy rice in this easy-to-make dish in the Instant Pot! Oil-free option, plant-based, gluten-free.
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American Vegan
Servings 8 servings
Calories 191 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups arborio rice
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil, optional
  • 1 white or yellow onion, diced
  • 8 ounces crimini mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth (I used Better than Boullion Vegetable Base)
  • 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained (save the liquid for another use, gotta love aquafaba!)
  • 1 bunch asparagus, tough ends removed and sliced into 2-inch pieces
  • salt & pepper to taste

Optional

  • 1/4 cup of Savory Cashew Cream

Instructions
 

  • Set the Instant Pot to the saute function.
  • Add two tablespoons of water to the cooking insert, and add the asparagus.
  • Cook asparagus for 2-3 minutes until bright green.Remove asparagus to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
  • Add oil (if using), and onions. Cook onions for 3-5 minutes, until starting to become translucent.
  • Add the mushrooms, and cook until they start to brown and most of the liquid has cooked out.
  • Add the rice and stir for 1-2 minutes until the rice has started to release a bit of starch and get toasted.
  • Add the vegetable broth and chickpeas, and stir to combine, making sure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pot.
  • Lock the lid and set to manual high pressure for 5 minutes. Make sure the valve is set to sealing.
  • When the cooking time has elapsed, release the pressure with the quick release valve until the pressure indicator goes down.
  • Stir risotto, adding in savory cashew cream, if using.
  • Drain asparagus and add to the risotto, stirring to combine and heat asparagus through.
  • Season with salt & pepper if desired, and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Stovetop Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, saute the asparagus in two tablespoons of water for 2 minutes, until the asparagus turns bright green and is just barely cooked.
  2. Remove asparagus to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
  3. In the same pan, add olive oil (if using) and onions, and saute for 3-5 minutes until the onion has softened.
  4. Add the mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes until the moisture has evaporated and they start to take on some color.
  5. Add in the rice and toast with the onions and mushrooms for 1-2 minutes, to activate the starch in the rice and help it start to release.
  6. Stir in the chickpeas and 1 cup of broth.
  7. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is nearly evaporated.
  8. Repeat with the remaining broth one cup at a time, stirring between additions until the liquid is all absorbed and the rice is creamy and cooked through. If the rice is not cooked, you may need to add some additional broth until it is done, up to two more cups.
  9. Turn off the heat, and add in the cashew cream, if using.
  10. Drain the asparagus and stir into the risotto.
  11. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired, and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 191kcalCarbohydrates: 33.4gProtein: 7.6gFat: 3.7gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.7gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.7gSodium: 417.1mgPotassium: 302.2mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5.6gVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 5.8mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1.8mg
Keyword instant pot risotto, instant pot vegan risotto, vegan risotto
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Home » Dinner » Instant Pot Vegan Spring Risotto

236 shares

Dinner, Instant Pot, Main Dish, Side Dish 30-minute meal, asparagus, mushroom, oil-free, protein-packed, spring

About Beth

Beth is a food photographer and recipe developer based in the Pacific Northwest. She never tires of snuggling with her two beautiful kids and owes piles of chocolate chip cookies to her husband, aka the most wonderful person she knows. Keep in touch with Beth on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. marge201 says

    May 4, 2018 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe and video and instructions. Thank you! I’ll try it with farro and also add a parm rind and report back!

    Reply
  2. Bonnie Ridout says

    November 25, 2018 at 7:03 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing! The whole family loved it!

    Reply
  3. Cindi Blackwell says

    February 18, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    Great Recipe Beth, so excited to try. If I don’t have the savory cashew how does it get creamy.

    Reply
  4. GBL says

    March 3, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, I made this risotto tonight and it came out delicious!!! I liked the technique of cooling the asparagus and keeping it nice and crunchy. And the chickpeas are a great addition for extra fiber, protein, and a nice nutty flavor.

    A few minor modifications I used: doubled the asparagus and increased the mushrooms (I love a veggie-heavy risotto) and added my favorite ingredient, garlic (3 cloves diced) – which I sauteed inbetween the onion and the mushroom.

    Reply
  5. Liz Herrick says

    January 5, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this and it came out great! I left out the mushrooms because my husband doesn’t eat them… but it was still really good. I also used 2 bunches of asparagus – which I loved. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Beth says

      January 7, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Liz! I fully support the two bunches of asparagus. YUM. Also, why would you marry someone who doesn’t eat mushrooms? 😉 TOTALLY KIDDING.

  6. Bonnie says

    February 17, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    5 stars
    1st thing I ever made in my instant pot and it was a huge gir with the vegans and carnivores alike!
    I’m made it several times now with green beans as well. Thanks????

    Reply
  7. Cass says

    May 4, 2020 at 1:42 pm

    5 stars
    love this recipe, it has become a go to weekly!

    Reply
  8. Fran says

    October 6, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    5 stars
    Looks amazing

    Reply

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236 shares