This is a simple rice pudding recipe with options. You can add cranberries, raisins, fresh herbs, or anything your cooking desires take you. If you do not want to use animal-based milk, you can use almond or oat milk as well.
What is rice pudding?
Rice pudding is a dish that is made from rice that is mixed with water or milk. You also use other ingredients such as cinnamon, vanilla, and raisins. Often times rice pudding is served as a dessert. You can find versions of rice pudding across many countries including Greece (Ρυζόγαλο), Lebanon (Moghli), Puerto Rico (Arroz con dulce), Mexico (Arroz con Leche), and India (Dudhapak) to name a few. Each country makes it with rice as their starch. However, the type of rice, milk, spices, and flavoring varies from country to country.
Rice Pudding the MyPrepTable Way
As a kid growing up one of my favorite treats was having my rice pudding. In the Greek culture, every kid looks to have warm rice pudding after school as a snack or even for dinner. Rice pudding is good both cold and warm. The key is to make sure that the rice does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
How do you make simple rice pudding?
Below is a basic rice pudding recipe. This recipe is designed to be as basic as possible. Once you master this recipe feel free to modify it by adding any fixings you like. Fruit, like dried raisins, can be added after the rice has been cooked in the milk. If the fruit is fresh you can add it after the rice pudding is done. That way you can keep as much of the freshness from the fruit in the pudding. You can use regular store-bought ground cinnamon. If you want to take it up a notch try using the real cinnamon freshly ground.
I have mastered the basic rice pudding recipe. Now what?
Now you can start having fun with it. You can add toppings like a bruleed sugar. This gives your pudding a nice crispy topping with a satisfying crunch. You can add all sorts of dried fruits during the cooking process to allow the flavors to leech out into the pudding while rehydrating the fruit. Top with seasonal berries and mint for a classic diner feel. Want to spice it up, add a dash of cayenne to play with spicy and sweet. Want to fancy it up, add a few saffron pieces. You can also try adding some of the sauce from our Poached Pear recipe. Just reduce the sauce by half until it thickens and you can drizzle it on top of your rice pudding.
Simply Rice Pudding
Equipment
- 1 Non Stick Sauce Pot
- 1 Zester
- 1 Ladle
- 1 (Help support our site!)Wooden Spoon
- 5 Storage Containers 8-10oz Portion Size
- 1 (Help support our site!)Measuring Cup
Ingredients
- 10 ounce(s) Long Grain Rice Any white long grain rice will do.
- 2 quart(s) Whole Milk Milk substitutes will work with this recipe.
- 2 tbsp(s) Vanilla Extract Pure vanilla extract.
- ¼ whole Orange Zest Any zester or grater will work.
- 10 ounce(s) Sugar Cane or beet sugar is fine. Other sweeteners may be used according to taste.
- 2 tbsp(s) Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
- Gather, wash all ingredients and lets bring it to the board.
- Begin by adding milk to a nonstick sauce pot.2 quart(s) Whole Milk
- Bring the milk to a high simmer (almost boiling). Once the milk is hot and bubbling, add your rice and stir. Continue to cook for 10-15 minutes.10 ounce(s) Long Grain Rice
- Stir frequently to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- While rice is cooking, zest ¼ of a whole orange and set aside.
- Once rice begins to fluff in the milk, add the orange peel and vanilla extract to the mixture. Continue stirring and cooking your mixture so that it does not stick on the bottom.2 tbsp(s) Vanilla Extract, ¼ whole Orange Zest
- Once the rice thickens and milk reduces, add the sugar and stir.10 ounce(s) Sugar
- Continue to cook until the mixture thickens. Turn off the stove and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Using a ladle, begin to pour mixture into a glass rectangular container or a portion size of choice.
- Begin to sprinkle cinnamon on top of rice pudding and place the portions in the refrigerator for minimum 1hr.2 tbsp(s) Ground Cinnamon
So creamy!!!