Arborio Raisin Rice Pudding

Now that fall is officially here and the air is cool and crisp outside, inside I’m thinking more and more about comfort foods. Is there anything more comforting then a bowl of old fashioned rice pudding? It’s simple, straight forward, none pretentious and quite economical!

There are so many variations using different ingredients such as butter, egg yolks and cream. Different techniques in cooking it, baked, stove top, and even some crock pot recipes. Fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, raisins, coconut, and some even spiked with liqueur, just to name a few.

In my house it’s golden raisins with cinnamon and vanilla, although I have been known to spike it with some Amaretto at times, (so good!) I don’t use cream or egg yolks or butter, because frankly we don’t need it, and believe me you won’t miss it.

If you want to fancy it up you can make or buy some dried apples and stick them into the rice pudding for a pretty presentation, I’ve done that a couple of times but normally I just eat it as is, the flavors are “fancy” all on it’s own.

I had so much success with oven drying tomatoes, that I thought I’d give it a try with some apples and pears. It took a lot less time and the result was great, and even 2 weeks later they were still moist and chewy! Make sure to store them in an airtight container.

I used a mandolin for slicing my up my fruit which I then placed single layer on a baking sheet topped with parchment paper. They took about 3 hours to dry in a 225 F oven. I sprinkled cinnamon sugar on mine before baking, but you don’t have to.

Scenes from a pumpkin farm we went to over the weekend, don’t you just love fall, it’s my favorite season.

Arborio Raisin Rice Pudding
 
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Ingredients
  • 5 cups whole milk
  • 1/ 2 heaping cup of arborio rice
  • ½ cup sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • ½ golden raisins
  • 2 teaspoons good vanilla
  • optional cinnamon or a drizzle of amaretto liquor
Instructions
  1. Combine the milk, sugar and salt in a sauce pan on medium heat, when it reaches a boil add the rice, stir and reduce to a slow simmer.
  2. You need to stir the rice mixture frequently and total time could take up to an hour.
  3. When you see it thicken up nicely like a loose pudding it's finished.
  4. Remove pan from heat add the raisins and vanilla.
  5. Let it cool down, then cover the top of the mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate til cool.
  6. You can sprinkle with cinnamon or omit the cinnamon and spoon some amaretto liquor on top.
  7. I highly suggest you double the recipe, you'll be glad you did!
  8. Enjoy!

 

 

Buon Appetito!
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