Colombian-style rise-putting. Photo Credit: blog.amigofoods.com.
Rice pudding is a Latin American dessert that can be found all over the world due to its simple ingredients and incredible taste. It has some variations from country to country, but each recipe shares some similarities.
It’s not a seasonal or celebratory dish. Just a wonderful, hearty, sweet bite that everybody loves. It can be served warm or cold everywhere, and you can add extra flavor to it.
The only difference between countries when making rice pudding is the addition of some extra flavors, which can vary.
The origins of rice pudding
The exact origins of the rice pudding are unknown, and there are many beliefs around it.
According to amigofoods.com, “During the Fatimid era, around the 12th century, many new desserts were created” and “the tradition carried on through the next three centuries, where Egypt and the Levant diligently [continued] creating new sweet and savory dishes.” Therefore, rice pudding is believed to have been created around that era.
Others believe that rice pudding, “has its roots in India and China many thousands of years ago. It’s thought to have come to Europe around the 14th century. However, it was around even earlier as a type of rice pudding used medicinally for stomach upsets in Roman times,” according to thedailymeal.com.
So, what ingredients do other countries add to the preparation of rice pudding to make it unique?
Rice pudding, or arroz con leche, is made with cow milk, white rice, and sugar, which are basic ingredients in every kitchen around the world.
Typically, vanilla flavoring is used throughout Nordic and Anglo-Saxon nations to add an extra flavor to the rice pudding.
The Spanish version has the classical addition of butter, cinnamon sticks, and a dash of tangy lemon.
According to yourfriendinreykjavik.com, in Finland, they eat rice pudding for breakfast, and when they eat it as a side dish, they add almonds as a sign of good luck.
In Italy, orange peels are added to enhance the flavor of the rice pudding.
In Iran, the dessert is traditionally made with saffron, and in northern India, it’s made with cardamom, according to linsfood.com.
In Colombia, people add toppings like cheese, cinnamon powder, and raisins to the mixture.
Peruvians combine rice pudding with a sweet purple maize jelly, stewed with fresh and dried fruits, which is eaten as a side dish.
In the Caribbean, rice pudding is served with grated coconut or condensed milk.
How to prepare the perfect rice pudding
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 6 cups of water.
- 2 cups of whole milk
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup long-grain white rice
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, add ½ cup of long white rice and six cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat until the rice is cooked.
- Add ½ cup of sugar, ½ teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup of milk. Stir in the rice occasionally and reduce the heat to low.
- Once thickened, remove from heat, add the rest of the milk, and stir.
- Add your favorite toppings to the rice pudding.
- If you want to serve it warm, set it to room temperature for about 10 minutes, or you can serve it chilled by refrigerating it for one hour; it all depends on your preference. Then, it’s all ready to be eaten!
