Spicy Italian Sausage Risotto
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This delicious risotto is flavourful and spicy and can be ready in just 45 minutes!
The first time I ever had Risotto was at a small restaurant in Rome. I decided to venture outside of my comfort zone and order something other than pasta for a change: the simple white wine risotto was a revelation. Risotto is hearty, creamy, flavourful and satisfying. It checks many of the same boxes as a delicious pasta dish and goes beautifully with seafood, chicken, and beef. It also makes an amazing vegetarian meal when served alongside grilled or sauteed veggies.
Spicy Italian Sausage Risotto is everything you want from a risotto, without the necessity of standing over it at the stove top. It’s smooth, creamy and flavourful. The sauteed garlic and onion creates a beautiful flavour base for this risotto, while the saffron adds an earthy complexity that complimented by the creamy rice, sharp parmesan, and spicy caramelized sausage. It’s a delicious meal on it’s own, or served as a side to meat or seafood of your choice. I promise that once you try this recipe it will change the way you think about rice! Best of all, in the Instant Pot this delicious meal can be on your table in 45 minutes!
TOTAL TIME
- Preparation Time – 5 minutes
- Cooking Time – 40 minutes
- Total Time – 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS FOR SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE RISOTTO
All the ingredients for this risotto are easy to source from any local grocer.
- 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 2 Shallots
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio Rice
- 1 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 pinch Saffron
- 1/4 cup White Wine
- 4 cups Chicken Broth, preferably homemade
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan
- 2 Spicy Italian Sausages, casings removed
- 2 Whole Sundried Tomatoes in Oil
- 1/2 cup Baby Arugula
WHAT IS ARBORIO RICE?
Arborio rice is a short grain Italian rice that is often used for risotto. It has a high starch content and absorbs less liquid, resulting in a sticky, compact, creamy risotto.
MUST I REMOVE THE SAUSAGE FROM ITS CASING?
While you do not have to remove the sausage from it’s casing, I strongly recommend removing the it breaking it up while you cooking in order to have small pieces of meat which make for a more pleasant bite in your risotto.
WHAT IS SAFFRON?
Saffron is a spice harvested from the stamen of the Saffron Crocus. It is harvested by hand in the fall when the flower blooms. It adds an amazing depth to this dish. More information about this beautiful spice can be found here.
CAN I USE OLDER WINE IN MY RISOTTO?
People often say that they have an open bottle that’s starting to go off, so they’ll just use it for cooking. This makes no sense, because the wine imparts beautiful flavour to this meal, so why would you use a bottle that’s starting to sour? You wouldn’t! Although this risotto only uses a quarter cup of wine, the flavour is still integral to the dish. That said, you certainly don’t need to buy an expensive bottle specifically for this meal. Simply use something you enjoy the taste of, because that is the flavour that will be imparted to your dish.
SHOULD I RINSE MY RICE BEFORE COOKING?
Unlike regular cooked rice, you should never ever rinse your rice before cooking risotto! Rinsing rice reduces it’s starch content and prevents it from sticking together. Risotto rice needs to maintain it’s sticky consistency as it’s key to creating a a creamy risotto.
INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS
CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF RICE?
Carnaroli is an excellent substitute for Arborio rice. It is also a short grained Italian rice with a high starch content that doesn’t absorb too much liquid and keeps it’s shape well in the risotto.
CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHEESE?
This delicious dish works best with a salty, hard cheese. Pecorino and Grana Padano would both work as substitutes for Parmesan.
CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF MEAT?
I use sausage in this dish because it has lots of flavour and contrasts beautifully with the creamy rice. If you choose to substitute sausage, I would suggest medium ground beef. I would strongly recommend adding some minced garlic while you cook your beef for some added flavour.
CAN I SUBSTITUTE A DIFFERENT SPICE FOR SAFFRON?
Some people believe that Turmeric can be substituted for Saffron as it will add a similar yellow colour to your rice. Turmeric will colour your rice like Saffron, but it will not add the earthy bitterness imparted by this beautiful spice. Don’t use a substitution.
EQUIPMENT FOR SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE RISOTTO
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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make this Sausage Risotto:
- Instant Pot – I find the Instant Pot to be a wonderful tool for the preparation of risotto. It allows me to walk away while it’s cooking without concern, and it reduces the cooking time exponentially while still producing a creamy risotto . I highly recommend purchasing this tool if you like to make risotto.
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Mortar and Pestle
COOKING DIRECTIONS FOR SPICY SAUSAGE RISOTTO
If you follow a few simple rules, this delicious Spicy Italian Sausage Risotto will turn out perfectly the first time!
- Make sure to caramelize your sausage.
- Use authentic saffron in your risotto.
- Never ever rinse your Arborio rice!
MAKE AHEAD STORAGE
If you’d like you can cook your sausage prior the day before you make your risotto, just store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
You can refrigerate and keep this delicious dish for up to three days. It will reheat well, just drizzle a bit of olive oil on it first.
FINISHED DISH
Enjoy your amazing Spicy Italian Sausage Risotto!
OTHER DISHES WITH SAUSAGE
Quick and Delicious Shrimp and Sausage Pasta
Pasta with Pistachio and Kale Pesto
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by leaving a comment and rating below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #cooking.with.carbs.
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Spicy Italian Sausage Risotto
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Chef's Knife
- Cutting Board
- Mortar and pestle
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Unsalted butter divided
- 2 Shallots
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
- 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 pinch Saffron
- 1/4 cup White wine
- 4 cups Chicken broth preferably homemade
- 2 Spicy Italian Sausages casings removed
- 2 whole Sundried Tomatoes in oil minced
- 1/2 cup Baby Arugula
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan
Instructions
- On the sautee function of your instant pot melt 1 tablespoon of butter and the olive oil.
- Add the sausage and break it up while cooking, 10 minutes.
- Finely chop the shallots and add them to the pot.
- Sautee for 5 minutes until the shallots have softened and started to brown.
- Finely grate the garlic into the pot and mix, then cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the rice and salt and cook while stirring for 5 minutes.
- Grind the saffron with a mortar and pestle.
- Pour the saffron into the pot, then put the wine in the mortar and pour it into the pot as well.
- Stir and cook for 1 minute until the wine has been absorbed.
- Add the broth and sundried tomatoes, stir and close the Instant Pot.
- Cook for 6 minutes on high pressure, then release the pressure manually.
- Turn the Instant Pot to sautee and add the second tablespoon of butter and grated parmesan, cook for 5 minutes.
- Serve with more parmesan and arugula if desired.
I love risotto but have never tried using my Instant Pot – this looks so fast and easy!