When people hear the term rice pudding, they often first think of their grandma’s homemade dessert that regularly sweetened their childhood. In order for raw rice to become rice pudding, the type of rice used must have certain characteristics. Therefore, there exists a special type of rice, which already in its raw state bears the name “rice pudding” and which, due to its characteristics, is particularly suitable for cooking the popular dessert.
This is what you should know about rice pudding
Rice pudding is a type of rice that consists of round grains and has a few special characteristics. However, the finished sweet dish that is cooked from this rice and fresh milk and some sugar is also called rice pudding. Rice pudding is a type of rice that consists of round grains and has a few special properties. However, the finished sweet dish, which is cooked from this rice and fresh milk as well as some sugar, is also called rice pudding – sometimes rice porridge or thick rice, depending on the region. Rice pudding as a dish is suitable both as a sweet main course and as a dessert or snack. It is popular with adults and children alike and can be garnished in a very varied way. The rice variety rice pudding is a round grain rice, which was usually still polished by machine. Originally, the rice grains for rice pudding come from Italy, but today they have become very popular, especially in Europe. The short-chain starch abundantly contained in rice pudding ensures that the milk used in cooking is thickened to a paste when cooked. This gives rice pudding its typical creamy yet somewhat firm consistency. In addition, the starch contained in the rice grains ensures good and long-lasting satiety. Other types of rice, especially long-grain rice such as basmati rice or jasmine rice, are only suitable for making rice pudding in an extreme emergency, as they release far less starch than the grains of round rice and as a result the milk cannot thicken as well as when special rice pudding is used. The best emergency alternative, if special rice pudding is not available, is risotto rice, as this also has a relatively high starch content. As with cooking in water, the individual rice grains also soften in milk, but still remain during the cooking process and are still easily recognizable visually and haptically in the finished dessert. With the exception of said rice grains, the consistency of rice pudding is very creamy, as the softly cooked rice grains are generously surrounded by the thickened milk.
Importance for health
Compared with other desserts, rice pudding is often the lightest alternative. Therefore, it is also suitable for the diet of figure-conscious people who want to treat themselves to something special every now and then. Prepared rice pudding has some healthy ingredients: the starch it contains provides energy and the calcium contained in the milk strengthens the bones. In addition, rice pudding garnished with fresh fruit is a perfect opportunity to make the appropriate fruit palatable to children. So, if the rice pudding is not made with a large amount of sugar and at most with a small piece of butter, it is a relatively healthy and light dessert – especially, of course, in combination with fresh fruit.
Ingredients and nutritional values
| Nutritional information |
Amount per 100 gram |
| Calories 111 | Fat content 1.6 g |
| Cholesterol 6 mg |
Sodium 109 mg |
| Potassium 130 mg | Carbohydrates 21 g |
| Protein 3.3 g |
Dietary fiber 0.1 g |
100 grams of raw milk rice grains contain on average:
- 357kcal (1496kJ)
- 5.8g protein
- 80g carbohydrates
- Of which 0.5g sugar
- 1g fat
- 2.2g dietary fiber
The nutritional values of home-cooked rice pudding can vary significantly with the addition of cinnamon and sugar, fruit, sweet sauces or even a piece of butter during cooking. The addition of fruit or stewed fruit adds some more vitamins to rice pudding.
Intolerances and allergies
Since rice pudding is usually made with cow’s milk, the sweet dish is not well tolerated by people with lactose intolerance.Such an intolerance to rice pudding usually manifests itself in severe abdominal pain, which occurs promptly after consumption. However, this problem can be easily circumvented by using soy, rice or cereal drinks instead of regular milk. Even with these alternatives, the milk rice grains become a creamy and tasty dessert, suitable even for a vegan diet.
Shopping and kitchen tips
Ready-made rice pudding from the refrigerated shelves of supermarkets and discount stores is the fastest version of the popular dessert. Industrially cooked rice pudding is sold in plastic cups that closely resemble those of yogurt. It is available with various toppings or sweet sauces. Typical varieties include rice pudding with cinnamon, cherries, vanilla, chocolate or applesauce, and plain rice pudding is also readily available. Rice pudding as a rice variety is very inexpensive and usually available in 500-gram packages. These are enough for about eight servings of finished rice pudding. As is typical for rice, the raw product will keep for many months if stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Like industrially cooked rice pudding, raw rice pudding is not difficult to obtain: To get it, it is enough to go to the discount store or supermarket. Both products are available at very low prices. The raw rice pudding, however, is also available in very high-quality variants, for example, in organic quality. These products cost a little more, but are still well affordable.
Preparation tips
Rice pudding is usually served as a dessert. It tastes good both hot and cold. Rice pudding is especially popular with cinnamon and sugar or fruit, for example, with hot cherries, red fruit jelly or with apple compote. Rice pudding is also an excellent base for sweet casseroles in combination with fruit, and ready-cooked rice pudding can also be an interesting ingredient for making cakes. Since the preparation time of conventional homemade rice pudding is around 45 minutes, the industry has developed an instant rice pudding that only needs to be left to swell in hot milk for a few minutes. However, connoisseurs swear by the unique taste of completely home-cooked rice pudding. This is also still very simple to make: Rice pudding, milk, a little sugar and a pinch of salt, as well as butter and vanilla to taste, are brought to the boil and then left to swell for around 40 minutes over a low heat. The sweet sauce for this can also be made yourself, for example, from a fruit juice and starch, which are boiled together.
