Rice pudding: easy, quick and homemade recipe (step by step)

Rice pudding is a very popular dessert around the world, so much so that there are different versions of this dish in almost every country.

In this article we tell you the origin of this delicious dessert and we explain step by step the traditional rice pudding recipe, so you can prepare it quickly and easily at home

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Origin of rice pudding

But before getting to the point, and never better said, we will tell you the story behind this delicious dessert, well yes there are many ways to prepare rice pudding All over the world it is because the origin of this delicacy dates back many centuries and comes from very distant countries.

And it is that although it is a very popular traditional dessert both in Spain and in several Latin American countries, it is said that it was brought by the Arabs through Andalusia, later becoming more popular in Asturias due to the quality of the milk in this region.

This is because the arrival of rice to Spain came from the hand of the Arabs, who also introduced

products like cane sugar, lemon, and cinnamon. All this suggests that the origins of the traditional rice pudding recipe date back to the 7th century in the Iberian Peninsula, and later spread throughout Latin America after colonization.

However, other versions indicate that the first rice puddings were created in China, India or even other countries in the Middle East, due to the high production of its main ingredient, rice, and to the fact that there are traditional recipes in those places very similar to the most current version of this dessert.

The truth is there are many countries where rice pudding exists as a traditional dessert, although with certain variations of the one we know and with different names. Here we explain a recipe for traditional rice pudding, according to the version popularized in Spain and in several Latin American countries.

Traditional rice pudding recipe

While there are many ways to prepare this dish, this rice pudding recipe is considered the most popular and widespread version. And although it is a dessert that requires patience when preparing it, it is a quick and easy recipe.

Ingredients for 4 people

These are the basic ingredients for a traditional homemade rice pudding recipe, but each recipe is customizable and has its own variations.

• 1 ¼ liter of whole milk
• 115 gr of round rice
• 100 grams of sugar
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Cinnamon powder to decorate

Rice pudding recipe step by step

Follow this easy and quick rice pudding recipe that we explain step by step next, for a delicious dessert that is ideal for anytime.

Step 1

Take a casserole and put the milk to heat over medium heat together with the sugar, the zest of 1 lemon and the cinnamon stick. It's recommended that milk is whole for greater creaminessd. Leave until it boils.

Step 2

At this point you can drain the rice if you prefer, although some people recommend not doing it so as not to lose the creaminess of the rice pudding with the loss of starch. In any case, add the rice to the casserole with the milk, stir and lower the heat to medium low, so that it cooks over a low heat.

Step 3

The rice should be left to cook for about 45 to 50 minutes, but it is important to constantly stir so it does not stick. When the rice pudding begins to be mellow and has cooked, remove from the heat.

Step 4

Set aside the cinnamon stick and lemon rind, and reserve them if you want to use them as a decoration at the end of the dish. Let the casserole warm and divide the rice into bowls or the container with which you prefer to serve it. Add the ground cinnamon sprinkled And, if you prefer, use the cinnamon stick or a few pieces of the lemon peel to decorate.

Tips for its preparation

Here are some last tips so that your rice pudding recipe is great and you don't have any problems.

• There are recipes for rice pudding in which the rice is first cooked in water and then mixed with the milk, but you can also cook everything together from the first moment.
• If you wash the rice before using it, it is said to lose creaminess, although this also helps it not stick as easily.
• It is preferable to add the ingredients cold, especially so that the rice does not stick. But don't forget to stir constantly and never let more than 5 minutes go by without stirring.
• The rice will absorb milk even outside the fire.or, so you must monitor the amount of milk that remains so that it does not remain dry. In case you see that it is missing while it is being made, you can add a little hot milk.
• To give your homemade rice pudding more creaminess, once the husks are removed you can add about 20 grams of butter and stir well.
• You can also vary the recipe by adding ½ vanilla bean, an orange peel or even cloves. It is important not to leave the white part of the peel of the fruit that you use, as it can add bitterness.
• You can decorate your rice pudding with the same cinnamon stick, pieces of lemon peel or even add mint leaves. In countries like Argentina they add dulce de leche.

Now you have your recipe for homemade rice pudding, easy and quick to prepare. No matter how you prepare it, don't forget that the important thing is to cook it with patience and stir well. Do you dare to try it?

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