Instant Pot Farro Risotto with Mushrooms

Name: Instant Pot Farro Risotto with Mushrooms
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Risotto
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups pearled farro; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 onion, minced; 8 oz baby bella or button mushrooms, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3 cups broth; 2 oz parmesan cheese (about ¾ cup shredded)

Jump To Recipe by Liz Thomson February 13, 2020 This post may contain affiliate links.

This creamy risotto is made with farro instead of traditional arborio rice, for a heartier, healthier risotto made in an Instant Pot. Mushrooms and Parmesan cheese give this vegetarian risotto a delicious, salty flavor!

Risotto is one of my favorite comfort food recipes. But traditional risotto recipes require you to stand by the stove, tediously stirring broth into the arborio rice. Instead of standing by the stove all evening, I decided to turn to my pressure cooker for a little help! And since I was changing things up anyway, I decided to use farro instead of arborio rice. It has a chewier texture but it still gives you a thick and creamy risotto. Plus, it’s a hearty whole grain!

What is Farro?

Farro is an ancient grain, full of protein, fiber, and other nutrients! The taste is heartier and chewier than brown rice and is sometimes confused with spelt. Because it is a type of wheat, it is not gluten-free. There are a few different types of farro:

Pearled Farro: This is the most common type of farro and it’s the type that we’ll use in this recipe. It’s a bit less nutritious because it’s had the bran removed, but it has the shortest cook time.
Semi-pearled farro: As the name suggests, this type of farro has had part of the bran removed. It takes a bit longer to cook than pearled farro and it has more of a nutty flavor.
Whole farro: This type of farro includes the whole wheat bran, which makes it the most nutritious but it also takes the longest to cook. This type of farro typically needs to be soaked overnight before cooking.

Because farro doesn’t have as much starch as arborio rice, it helps to break down the farro a bit before cooking. Add the pearled farro to a blender or food processor and pulse 8-10 times. This will create a better texture for the risotto.

How to Make Farro Risotto

farro in a strainer — Add the pearled farro to a blender or food processor and pulse 8-10 times.

farro and mushrooms — Add the pearled farro to a blender or food processor and pulse 8-10 times.

More Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Farro Risotto with Mushrooms

★★★★★ 5 from 1 review

Author: Liz Thomson
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 cups 1x
Category: Dinner
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: Risotto

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Description

This creamy risotto is made with farro instead of traditional arborio rice, for a heartier, healthier risotto. Mushrooms and Parmesan cheese give this vegetarian risotto a delicious, salty flavor!

Ingredients

Scale

1 ½ cups pearled farro
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, minced
8 oz baby bella or button mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups broth
2 oz parmesan cheese (about ¾ cup shredded)

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Instructions

In a blender or food processor, add the farro and pulse 8-10 times to break down the grains.
Set the pressure cooker to saute.
Add the butter and saute until melted.
Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the mushrooms and continue to cook for 3 minutes, stirring to ensure it doesn’t burn.
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add the vegetable broth and farro and stir.
Set the pressure cooker to manual for 13 minutes.
After 13 minutes, quick release the pressure.
Stir in parmesan and add salt to taste. Add additional broth, if needed.

Keywords: Instant Pot Farro Risotto with Mushrooms

I like to top each bowl with a little extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

How to Reheat Farro Risotto

You can reheat this in the microwave for a quick meal. I recommend heating in 1-minute intervals, stirring frequently. You may want to add a splash of broth or water to loosen the risotto and bring back the creamy texture. You can also reheat on the stove. Add a splash of water to a small pot. Add the risotto and stir while heating until heated through. I don’t recommend freezing leftovers.

What to Serve with Farro Risotto

I love serving this dish with a green vegetable or salad. Try pairing this risotto with my Spicy Kale Salad or pair it with these Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts. If you’re short on time, these 10 Minute Green Beans make a great quick and easy side dish. Or you can make these Easy Sauteed Brussels Sprouts on the stovetop!