Enjoy these comfort rice puddings

Rice pudding is, without a doubt, the king of comfort desserts. This creamy preparation has the power of taking away all your worries and making you feel relaxed.

Hot or cold, rice pudding takes you back to your childhood when your mum gave it a bowl as a dessert or snack.

If you have not tried it yet, you have not tasted the best dessert. Let’s discover how to make the perfect rice pudding and its variations around the world.

What is rice pudding?

Rice pudding is a sugary preparation made of rice, milk, sugar, and flavorings. It is served cold or warm as a dessert or a midday snack. It has a creamy and thick texture given by cooking rice with milk.

The secret behind rice pudding relies on its ingredients:

• Rice: It needs rice full of starch as short-grain rice. This type of rice gives the iconic creaminess of rice pudding. Use Arborio, Bomba rice, sushi rice, or sticky rice. Some recipes suggest using leftover rice for a better result. Using precooked or raw rice depends on the cooking technique. Whatever type you use, make sure it is short-grain rice.
• Milk: The traditional recipe calls for whole milk because it gives the richness and creaminess this dish requires. However, there are variations like coconut milk rice pudding or cream or evaporated milk rice pudding.
• Sugar: Granulated white sugar gives a sugary touch to rice pudding. Brown sugar is also used, it gives a caramel flavor. Healthy rice pudding contains sweeteners.
• Flavorings: Besides the rich flavor of milk, rice pudding has other flavors that give an extra taste to it. Cinnamon, lemon zest, and vanilla are the common flavorings used.
• Toppings: Traditionally, rice pudding is served with ground cinnamon at the top. Other toppings are jam, fresh fruits, nuts, grated coconut, whipped cream, seeds, golden raisins, cacao, and so much more.

Rice pudding variations

Almost every country has its version of rice pudding with various ingredients, different cooking techniques, and toppings.

In Latin American rice, pudding recipes stay close to the traditional dish. It has rice, whole milk, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins. Some versions include butter, coconut cream, and raisins (Puerto Rico); in Colombia, it has cream, coffee, raisins soaked in rum, and cloves.

In Asia, variations have bananas like Thai rice pudding. In the Philippines, it includes chocolate, and in India, rice pudding contains saffron.

In Europe, rice pudding versions are also varied. Italian rice pudding has eggs and orange zest. In German, it includes apple sauce and cherries.

Two easy ways of making delicious rice pudding

Rice puddings are so varied that it could be arduous to choose one for trying at home. Maybe your family already has a recipe passed down from generation to generation.

If you want to try a different one, check the following ideas to enjoy this comfort dessert.

Traditional rice pudding

Ingredients (4 servings):

• 4½ cups of whole milk.
• 1½ cups of water.
• ¾ cup of granulated sugar.
• 1 cinnamon stick.
• 1 cup of Arborio rice.
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste.
• ⅔ cup of golden raisins.
• Ground cinnamon for garnish.

Preparation:

1. In a big saucepan, add whole milk, water, sugar, cinnamon stick, and rice. Stir very well.
2. Cook at medium heat for 10 minutes, do not let it boil. Stir constantly.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 more minutes.
4. Cook until rice is tender. The mixture must be creamy, do not let it dry.
5. Take out of the heat, remove the cinnamon stick and add the vanilla bean and raisins.
6. Let it cool to room temperature.
7. Refrigerate
8. Serve with ground cinnamon at the top.

Baked rice pudding

Ingredients (4 servings):

• 4 eggs.
• 3/4 cup of granulated sugar.
• 3 cups of milk.
• 1 cup of heavy whipping cream.
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
• 3 cups of cooked rice.
• 1 cup of raisins.

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
2. In a bowl, combine eggs and sugar. Then, add milk and heavy whipping cream. Stir.
3. Incorporate vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, cooked rice, and raisins. Mix very well.
4. Grease a baking tray, and add the rice mixture.
5. Place this baking tray inside a bigger oven-proof pot. Add 2 inches of water to the pot.
6. Place them carefully into the oven.
7. Bake for 50 minutes.
8. Serve warm or cold.