Do Not Trash That Cooked Rice You’ve Found in the Refrigerator

Rice is such a versatile food that can be prepared in a large variety of forms, from meals and desserts, to even alcoholic beverages.

One of the best-known rice-based desserts for its easy-make and flavor is rice pudding. It’s such an international dessert that each country has a different name for it: “Kheer” or “Phirni” in India, “Roz bil-laban” in Egypt, and “Arroz con Leche” in Spanish-speaking countries. 

This dessert ranks high in the easy-to-prepare table, so even a not so skilled cooking aficionado can make it. It can even be made using leftover rice, which could mean saving time and money. Also, depending on the diner’s preference, it can be enjoyed either hot or cold. 

The rice pudding recipe you’ll see next includes heavy cream and unsalted butter that will give it a tasty and creamy touch. It also incorporates raisins and golden raisins to give more contrast in colors and flavor. Besides, you can just take that leftover rice in your fridge if you do not fancy throwing it away.

A dessert with a long time existing

Rice pudding has its origins in England during the 14th century. At that time, rice was considered a very expensive food and was exclusive for the elites and rich people, because it was difficult to import from Asia to Europe. Rice pudding was considered a second course and it was like an Italian Risotto. 

As time went by, consumption of this meal changed: it became a more affordable food due to the rice introduction to Europe by Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula and it turned into a sweet-tasting dessert. 

Rice pudding with cooked rice

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of cooked authentic white rice.
  • 2 cups of whole milk.
  • ⅛ tsp of salt.
  • 1 egg.
  • 4 oz. of heavy cream.
  • 2 tbsp of unsalted butter.
  • 3 tsp of ground cinnamon.
  • 1/2 handful of ground nutmeg.
  • 4 tbsp of granulated sugar.
  • ½ handful of golden raisins.
  • ½ handful of regular raisins.
  • 1 tsp of vanilla extract.

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, add the milk along with the cooked rice and a pinch of salt. Stir and mix every 2 minutes all the ingredients in the pan while it’s cooking for 10 minutes over medium heat.
  2. Mix the cream with the beaten egg in a bowl, and add cinnamon and nutmegs. Set aside.
  3. Add the sugar to the rice and milk blend, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
  4. Add the heavy cream mixture, stirring until it gets well blended. 
  5. Pour the golden raisins and the regular raisins. Stir until they are completely mixed into all ingredients. 
  6. Continue heating the saucepan until the mixture becomes thick, carefully stirring every 2 to 5 minutes. 
  7. When the mixture takes the desired thickness, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the butter and the tsp of vanilla into the saucepan. Stir again until the mixture homogenizes. 
  8. Let it cool for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve.

Tips

  • If you don’t like raisins or golden raisins, you can replace them with other fruits such as strawberries, pineapple, mango, and dried cranberries or blueberries.
  • This dessert can be stored in the freezer without a problem, where it can last up to 3 months. For defrosting, it is recommended letting it thaw at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • Rice pudding is a sweet-tasting meal, so it is recommended not to use flavored rice. White rice must be as natural as possible.
  • If the rice pudding does not get the thickness you want while cooking, a trick that may work is to add 1 tbsp of cornstarch and 1 tbsp of water to the mixture. Stir while heating until it gets thick. 
  • For this recipe, you can use any grain size rice: medium size, long size, or Risotto size.

Microwave rice pudding: a new way to cook it

Although making rice pudding in the microwave is not too common, it is another cooking option.

In this case, place the beaten egg, sugar, milk, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring the mixture at 2-minute intervals. 

Then add the heavy cream, cooked rice, raisins, nutmegs, golden raisins, vanilla, and cinnamon and heat for 2 minutes. 

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