Rice with milk, also known as rice pudding in North America, arroz con leche in Spanish-speaking countries, and kheer in India, are delicious desserts that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Use the same amount of cooked rice as milk, or cook rice from scratch with more milk than rice to get the right consistency. Add the desired sweetener, then add spices and other ingredients to get a unique flavor combination and find a rice recipe with milk that you like.
Ingredients
Cooking Rice From Scratch
- 180 grams of rice
- 1 liter of milk
- Sweetener
- tsp. (1 gram) salt
- Other cooking ingredients
Using Cooked Rice
- Rice
- Milk
- Sweetener
- tsp. (1 gram) salt
- Other cooking ingredients
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cooking Rice From Scratch
Step 1. Wash and drain 180 grams of rice
Put 180 grams of rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover the rice. Stir the rice by hand, and drain it in a fine sieve. Keep repeating this process until the rice washing water becomes clear and not cloudy.
Washing rice aims to remove the starch on the outside of the rice grains which makes it less sticky. If the water is clear, it means that all the starch is clean
Tip: Cooking milk rice from scratch is a traditional way of making rice pudding in the Southern US. Remember, this method takes longer to get the right consistency than using cooked rice.
Step 2. Mix the rice with 1 liter of milk in a non-stick saucepan
Put the washed rice in a non-stick saucepan, then pour in 1 liter of the milk you like.
To get a rich and creamy texture, use whole milk. Use milk with 2% fat or low fat if you want rice that does not contain too many calories. If you don't want to use milk, use coconut milk or almond milk
Step 3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat
Place the pot of rice and milk on the stove. Turn the heat to medium-high, and let the mixture simmer while continuing to stir.
Always pay attention to the mix and keep stirring until it boils so that the milk does not burn or spill out of the pan.
Step 4. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot
Reduce the heat to low heat so that the mixture only boils slightly, and cover the pot.
Make sure the rice and milk only come to a low boil when you cover them. When the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat again so the milk doesn't absorb too quickly
Step 5. Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat for about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring twice
Let the rice and milk cook until it thickens but still looks like a creamy liquid. Stir the mixture after the first 10 minutes and after 18 minutes to mix the rice and milk. Check the thickness level.
If the milk seems to be absorbed more quickly, reduce the cooking time to 18 to 20 minutes.
Step 6. Add sweetener to taste, tsp. (1 gram) salt, and other desired flavor enhancer
Remove the pan from the stove and add 1-2 tsp. (10-20 grams) sugar or 1-2 tbsp. (15-30 ml) other sweetening matter, eg honey or maple syrup. Add 1 tsp. (1 gram) salt, and taste the rice pudding. Next, add more sweetener if desired. Also mix in the spices or other flavoring ingredients at this stage.
- At this point, you can add other ingredients to your liking. Add a little bit first, stir and taste the rice mixture until you are satisfied with the taste.
- See the section about adding different flavors in the lower segment for some more specific ideas about the types of ingredients and flavors you can add.
Step 7. Cook the mixture for another 5 minutes using low heat
Turn the stove back on over low heat and cook the rice for 5 minutes so that all the ingredients are well mixed. Five minutes later, turn off the stove and remove the pot.
If the rice pudding is still too creamy, you can re-cook it for 3 to 4 minutes
Method 2 of 3: Using Cooked Rice
Step 1. Place equal amounts of rice and milk in a non-stick pan
Put the cooked rice in a non-stick pan, then pour in the same amount of milk you like.
- For example, if you are using 1 cup (200 grams) of cooked rice, add 1 cup (240 ml) of milk as well.
- Only use cooked rice that has not been flavored. You can use rice from short or long grain rice, or from white rice or brown rice.
- If you want rice pudding with a rich taste, use whole milk. However, you can use 2% or low-fat milk if you prefer. Do not use skim milk as it is too runny. If you don't like milk, try using coconut milk or almond milk.
Tip: Using cooked rice will make it easier for you to make rice pudding. You don't have to cook it for as long as you would when you cook it from scratch, and it will have the same texture as pudding. This is the traditional way of making arroz con leche, the Latin American and Spanish-speaking versions of milk rice.
Step 2. Bring the milk rice to a boil over medium-high heat
Place the pot of rice and milk on the stove. Turn the stove over to medium-high, then bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.
Keep stirring the mixture until it boils. Milk spills out of the pan very easily. So don't take your eyes off the pot for 1 or 2 minutes as it can make your kitchen dirty
Step 3. Reduce the heat to medium-low once the mixture starts to boil
Reduce the heat until the rice and milk are just a small boil. The temperature must be right for the mixture to reach a custard-like consistency.
It is very important to reduce the heat quickly so that the milk does not burn
Step 4. Add sweetener to taste and tsp. salt
Add 1-2 tbsp. (10-20 grams) sugar or 1-2 tbsp. (15-30 ml) your preferred liquid sweetener, such as sugar, honey or maple syrup. Taste the rice pudding and add more sweetener if you feel the pudding is still not sweet enough. Add tsp. (1 gram) of salt and mix evenly to reduce sweetness and balance the taste.
Milk gives the rice a slight sweetness so you don't need to add a lot of sweetener. It's important to taste the mixture when you add sweeteners so the rice pudding isn't too sweet
Step 5. Add other seasonings as desired and stir the mixture evenly
It's time for you to be creative. You can add as many ingredients as you want, then stir and taste. Do this until you are satisfied with the taste.
Check out the section on adding different flavors below for some more specific ideas about the different ingredients and flavor combinations you can try
Step 6. Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat for at least 15 minutes
Continue cooking the rice and milk after you've added the other ingredients until the milk is absorbed and the rice has a pudding-like consistency. This process usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but keep an eye on the mixture and turn off the heat when you get the texture you want.
- Rice pudding can be served warm or left to cool in the refrigerator for a cold dessert.
- Rice pudding can be stored in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
Method 3 of 3: Adding Different Flavors
Step 1. Add hot spices for a classic taste
Add tsp. (1 gram) powdered spices that have a warm taste, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and cardamom after you add salt and sweetener. This type of spice is commonly used in various rice puddings by people from America to India.
You can also add hot spice mix, for example pumpkin spice or Chinese 5 spice.
Tip: Always add the desired seasoning in small quantity first and taste the pudding. It's much easier to add more seasoning to make the taste stronger than it is to over-season the pudding.
Step 2. Add a spoonful of grated orange zest if you want a lighter taste
Try adding about 1 tbsp. (15 grams) grated sweet orange zest, grapefruit (a type of grapefruit), lemon, or lime after you add sweetener and salt. Taste the rice mixture after you add and stir in the orange zest and add more if desired.
You can also combine this citrus flavor with some other spices for a delicious flavor combination. For example, grated sweet orange zest goes well with cinnamon
Step 3. Add 1 spoon of cocoa powder to get a brown rice pudding and milk
Add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder to the milk after you have added the sweetener and salt. Stir all ingredients until well blended and taste it. Add more cocoa powder if you want a stronger chocolate flavor.
You can also use fresh grated chocolate instead of cocoa powder, or even combine the two
Step 4. Add nuts or dried fruit for a more varied texture and taste
Add dried fruit such as raisins or figs, or nuts such as almonds and walnuts after you add sweetener or just before serving the rice milk. This will add a natural sweetness and give the rice pudding additional texture.
These ingredients can also be used as a topping, not mixed with pudding
Step 5. Add a little sweet liquor to the pudding for adults to enjoy
Pour a little sweet liquor, such as Irish cream, amaretto, or orange liqueur into the rice milk after you add sweetener. Add the liquor, then stir the mixture and taste it. Add more drink if you want a stronger taste.
You can also use a strong liquor like rum or whiskey if you want a pudding with a strong alcoholic taste
Step 6. Add a few drops of liquid flavoring extract for added flavor
Add 2 to 3 drops of flavoring extract, such as vanilla or almond extract, to the rice mixture that has been added with sweetener and other ingredients. Stir all ingredients until well blended.
