The Italians definitely did it right when they invented Risotto, but, I have said it before and I will say it again – risotto does NOT need to take hours and hours and nonstop stirring at the stove. Not anymore anyway – thank goodness for pressure cookers! I first saw a recipe similar to this one that was just squash, but I have amped it up with sausage and extra herbs to give it a heartier flavor. This recipe is relatively easy to make for a weeknight and one pot keeps it definitely easy to clean. The real key is being patient long enough once it is done cooking to let it thicken a bit.
Highlights
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 6
Make Ahead? – Yes
Freezer Friendly? – No
Substitutions? – You can remove the sausage if you prefer a veggie dish! Turkey would also work well to swap with sausage if preferred.
Ingredients List
8 oz ground sweet italian sausage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon sage
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 3 cups chicken broth (low sodium works fine)
- 2 cups diced butternut squash
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Recipe: Sausage and Butternut Squash Risotto
- Dice butternut squash into 1/2 inch to 1 inch pieces. Set aside.
- Heat Insta-pot or other pressure cooker to sauté setting. Brown the sausage, cooking through. Remove from pot and set aside.
- Add olive oil to pot and heat while deglazing any burnt bits. Add garlic and cook, stirring about 2 minutes. Add spices (sage through paprika) and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add rice to the spice mixture and stir to coat. Add wine and stir for about 2 minutes, until mostly absorbed.
- Pour in broth, squash, salt and pepper to taste. Turn off sauté mode and turn on high pressure. Cook for 6 minutes at high pressure. Release pressure and remove the lid.
- Stir in parmesan and cooked sausage and let stand for 10 minutes or until thickened.
Family Tips
- You can swap turkey for the sausage if you prefer, or take the meat out entirely and just serve with butternut squash! Just add some additional squash (an additional half or full cup).
- If possible, cut up the squash beforehand to save a few minutes of preparation time when you begin this dish. You can save the rest of the squash to enjoy another evening!
- You can experiment with additional spices and herb to make this dish your own.
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