Tag: rice pudding
Phirni- Indian Rice Pudding
Phirni is a rice pudding like dessert common in the Middle East. It is also popular in Kashmir and other parts of North India. I have known about it since I was tiny. My Mom would make it for us in individual bowls, especially when we had people over for dinner. It is a creamy concoction of milk and sugar. The milk is thickened with rice and flavored with crushed cardamom seeds. It can be topped with chopped almonds and pistachios.
- ½ cup rice
- ½ cup water
Soak rice in water for 2-3 hours. Blend the mixture in a blender by first adding the wet rice and ¼ cup water. Gradually add the rest of the water and blend till smooth. Keep aside.
- 4 cups milk (whole milk or low fat)
- ¾ cup sugar (adjust according to taste)
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- 4-5 cardamom pods, ground
Garnish
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- 3 cardamom pods, ground
- ¼ cup pistachios, ground
In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer the milk. Add the sugar, almonds and cardamom. Gradually add the rice mixture while stirring constantly. Keep stirring till the mixture thickens up like a custard. Cook for another 3-4 minutes on low heat, stirring constantly.
Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with almonds, ground cardamom and pistachios.
Cappadocia – Day 2
Day six started super early at 5 AM. We got dressed in multiple layers to get ready for a once in a lifetime experience of a hot air balloon over the beautiful Cappadocian landscape. It was all of 34 degrees and we were all a bit scared of how cold it was going to be up in the balloon. We were picked up by the balloon company and taken to a restaurant type of place with lots of other people waiting in the dark. They were serving a light breakfast consisting of coffee, cherry juice, bread and pastries. We quickly had a few bites to eat and got back into their van and made our way to an open field where our balloon was being blown up. In about ten minutes we were on our way up as was the sun! It was the most spectacular views of the rock formations all around us. It was gentle, peaceful and one of the most unforgettable experiences we have had!
Kuvarma Platter
After an hour we were back on the ground and enjoying some cake and champagne! We headed back to our hotel, had breakfast, packed and left to explore some more before our flight back to Istanbul. After a few hours of exploring, we made our way back to Urgup town to enjoy our last meal in Cappadocia. We headed to a small, modest restaurant serving all sorts of kebab! We ordered a variety of kebabs including a beef doner kebab platter, a kuvarma platter-which was cut up beef pieces, perfectly marinated and cooked with slightly spicy green peppers. It was served with tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and a bit of rice- it was delicious. After the yummy lunch we ordered rice pudding with a dollop of cream and a vermicelli pudding filled with cheese and served with ice cream- both were really tasty but for me the rice pudding took the cake! The cream took it to the next level- yum!
Rice Pudding with Cream
Vermicelli Dessert
Soon it was time to leave and head to the airport. I will never forget our visit to Cappadocia- it has been an amazing variety of delicious food, exotic spices, yummy wine, the most amazing desserts and most important of all- the most hospitable and friendly people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!
Chocolate Rice Pudding with Amaretto Cream
My daughter loves chocolate pudding and I love rice pudding (actually she loves rice pudding as well). I love a generous portion of rice pudding with a sprinkle of a good Vietnamese ground cinnamon on top. It is the most delicious thing ever.
My husband, on the other hand, thinks rice should only be eaten with savory dishes. He does not relish any dessert made out of rice- what- seriously?? I love desserts made out of rice. Rich, creamy and delicious. My daughter, on the other hand, like me, loves all kinds of rice desserts.
I made this dessert combining chocolate and rice puddings together. I used arborio rice and cooked it in milk. I then added chocolate, sugar and vanilla extract. Once the pudding came together, I served it hot but with a twist. I whipped some heavy cream and added amaretto liquor and almond extract with some sugar. I served the dessert with the whipped cream and some toasted, sliced almonds.
It was absolutely out of this world delicious. It can be served cold as well but I prefer it hot. Either way, it makes a fabulous end to any meal- in the winter or the summer.
Try this one- I bet your kids will like it too…
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