I was told that rice pudding was the very first food I tasted when I started on solids as a baby. Which is totally acceptable since a) it is sweet and b) it has rice. Both of which I am extremely fond of. Starting with rice pudding is a ritual at home and making it on special occasions and birthdays is a tradition that my mother keeps up even today. Therefore, this pudding spells absolute comfort for me.
There are so many versions of this pudding. The Indian version known as kheer or payesh that I have grown up eating is a simple mixture of whole milk, sugar and rice simmered together along with cardamom pods for flavour. Saffron, almonds or palm sugar is also occasionally added in for variety. I am pretty contented and convinced about the one that my mother makes that I have never attempted to replicate it. Instead I have my own versions of the rice pudding , mainly different flavour combinations that I have experimented with and served to my family. Thankfully both my boys seem to enjoy rice pudding so this is my go-to dessert for a cosy weekend afternoon.
Since this is such a versatile sweet treat, I have never run out of ideas of the flavours that can go alongside the milk-rice base. This time around, I was also keen on giving it some colour. Blueberries and white chocolate complement each other well and purple is among my favorite shades. So this was an easy one. I was really happy with the outcome. Both, the way it tasted and looked. It has the silky, creamy melt-in-your mouth feel with the right amount of sweetness from the white chocolate. It is not overly sweet as the blueberries do a great job of cutting through the sweetness. This is a pudding that is cooked on the stove-top so it will need a little bit of stirring and supervision as we do not want the rice to stick or burn at the bottom of the pan. Also, if you think the milk is drying up too quickly in the mixture, feel free to add more till you get the desired consistency. This is one dessert that is more about the taste, texture and consistency that you are looking for rather than precise measurements.
Do you recollect (or know) what was the very first food you tasted? Is that something you like to eat today as well?
White Chocolate And Blueberry Rice Pudding
Serves 5
2 cups whole milk
1 cup pouring cream
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tbsp castor sugar
2/3 cup medium grain (or long grain) rice
150 g white chocolate, roughly chopped
2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
extra blueberries, to serve
shaved white chocolate/coconut flakes, to serve
Combine milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and rice in the saucepan. Bring to the boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until rice is tender. add the white chocolate and blueberries and simmer for a further 15 minutes or until the blueberries have melted completely and tinted the pudding. Continue to add more milk if the mixture sticks to the bottom or becomes dry.
Divide among serving bowls. Top with fresh blueberries and shaved white chocolate or sweetened coconut flakes.
Whoa, this is such a neat flavour for rice pudding! You’re totally right – rice pudding should definitely be versatile, but I always same to go with the same plain jane recipe. TOTALLY trying this!
Thanks Katrina. Rice pudding in any form is amazing. But chocolate makes everything better:-) I hope you try it!
I love rice pudding! This recipe is so simple and outcome so gorgeous that I have to try I as soon as possible.
I am glad you liked it..i hope you make it too. Thanks so much!
Wow rice pudding definitely takes me back to my childhood – but this white chocolate and blueberry version definitely puts any I have ever eaten before to shame! Just beautiful!
Thank you for saying such sweet words Thalia:-)
God Sonali that is such a beautiful looking pudding. Love it.
Thank you Bhavna! It tasted so good.
Blueberries and white chocolate in rice pudding, loving it! I have alway been a fan of rice pudding. No idea what I first ate as a solid, pablum baby cereal I was told.
You are the only one to answer that question…thank you Evelyne! Rice pudding is perfect comfort food.
This sure is beautiful, Sonali! I think custardy things are often comfort favorites. It’s so soothing. And really, your creativity is boundless…this is such a surprising combination for me. Lovely job!
Awww…you are such a darling Monica. I love working with new flavour combos. Thanks so much:-)
Brilliant! I’ve only ever had rice pudding out of a can (I know, I know), so I have high hopes for this one 🙂
Thanks Lou! The canned ones are actually convenient but never taste as good as the home made ones. I hope you try it sometime.
Two ways I have to have my kheer…one it has to have cardamom, and absolutely no raisins and second, naan. I love to eat my kheer with naan or puris 🙂 I know, such a desi 🙂
I’m such a stickler for cardamom in my kheer that I’ve never considered adding anything else, like fruit. These puddings look gorgeous and I bet taste wonderful. I usually get a bit more creative with my tapioca.
I agree Nazneen. Cardamom and rice pudding are just made for each other. I also ate kheer with puris as a child. Have to try the naan..I have a feeling it’s going to be awesome!
In Denmark rice “pudding” is an old traditional thing we eat at Christmas time. We simmer rice, milk and salt together until it has a thick consistency and the rice are all soft. Then we add sugar, cinnamon and a thespoon of butter in each bowl afterwards. We call it “risengrød”. On christmas night we eat a different version and put whipped cream and almonds in the “risengrød” and then we add cherry sauce on top. That is called risalamande.
It is a bit funny how to so different countries has a dish that is so similar. Especially the keer which you cook with cardamon pods. I imagine that it has kind of the same taste as “risengrød” 🙂
Your pictures are stunning and I really like your bowl and plates. 🙂
Thank you so much Julie! It was lovely reading about your tradition at Christmas. So true..one dish prepared and loved in so many ways. I LOVE the sound of the whipped cream and almonds with cherry sauce on top. I am definitely going to give it a try!
These pictures are beautiful! Well done!
One of my most favourite foods is rice pudding. It’s one of the only things my mother cooked. Much more simple than this though I have to say.