Rice Pudding Recipes

Rice Pudding Recipes

Rice pudding was a family favorite in our household for years. This simple dessert is making a comeback because it's easy to make and uses ingredients just about everyone has on hand. Some rice pudding recipes use eggs, which creates a custardy type of pudding, while others avoid them for a creamier dish.

Like many other well-loved recipes, rice pudding has a long history. Most food historians believe it originated in the Middle East as a kind of porridge made from several different types of grains. Chinese and Indian cooks developed the dish with the plentiful rice they enjoyed in their countries. It is also known in many medieval cookery books. Like many other puddings and soft foods, rice pudding has often been used in the sickroom and to sustain invalids. The Romans only used it as a medicine, but by Shakespeare's time it was a popular dessert.

Tips

Use a good quality vanilla in your rice pudding recipes; it will really have an effect. Or, use a real vanilla bean for true vanilla flavor. Add raisins, pistachios, or other fruits or nuts to add zest and texture to the pudding. You can use just about any type of rice in this pudding. Brown rice makes a nuttier dessert, while long grain rice adds a different texture to the dish. Nutmeg is a traditional spice for this dessert dish, but try cinnamon, or anything else your family likes.

Related Dessert and Pudding Links

• Dessert Recipes

• Pudding Recipes