Instant Pot Salmon Risotto

This Instant Pot Salmon Risotto takes the comforting creaminess of risotto and marries it to a hearty wild rice blend, so you get both the rice’s chew and the silkiness you expect from a risotto. Using a wild rice blend gives the dish a toasty, nutty backbone that stands up to the richness of salmon; pressure cooking shortens the hands-on time and helps tenderize the grains while preserving that pleasant bite. Finishing the pot with butter, Parmesan, and a bright squeeze of lemon rounds the flavors and turns the grains almost luxuriously creamy without constant stirring.

What makes this version work is the two-stage pressure method: a longer cook for the rice followed by a very short steam for the salmon, which keeps the fish flaky and tender without turning it mealy. Small steps like thoroughly deglazing to avoid a burn warning, letting a 10-minute natural release for the rice, and only stirring in cold butter and cheese off heat produce the best texture. This is a weeknight main that reads special enough for company, and it’s forgiving—great for cooks who want a restaurant-style plate with practical timing and minimal babysitting.