Levantine Rice Pudding
This is a very special dessert to me. I grew up with this and it was always presented when we had guests over or at times of celebration. It’s a very simple dessert and not really something everyone reaches for but it always had a special place with me. For me, it’s the consistency and flavors that pop with each bite. From a glance you wouldn’t expect it to have the flavors it does, it’s a surprise and you’ll only find out if you give it a chance.
Serves: 6
Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
0.5 cup Short Grain Rice
1 cup water
3 cups whole milk
0.5 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp corn starch
1 tsp grinded mastic
1 tsp rose water
1 tsp orange blossom water
cinnamon powder
pistachios
rose petals
Instructions
Soak rice for 20 minutes in cold water. Add rice to a pot with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil then drop to simmer for 15 minutes. Add 2.5 cups of whole milk and stir into rice on medium heat. Mix the remaining 0.5 cup whole milk with cornstarch and pour over the rice and mix well.
Grind up the mastic with a tsp of granulated sugar then add to the rice and mix well and continue cooking and stirring for another 15 minutes until it starts to thicken and lightly boil.
Turn the heat off, add the rose water and orange blossom water and mix well. Pour into a large bowl and let it sit and cool for 20-30 minutes then into the fridge for another hour.
Serve in small serving bowls and garnish with either cinnamon powder or pistachios + rose petals.
