How to make old fashioned rice pudding

These days you can buy ready made rice pudding that, the maker's claim, is as good as traditional, home made rice pudding. Well tinned, frozen or chilled, store bought, rice pudding is quick to prepare, easy to cook, sometimes cheap and usually convenient but it is no match for the real McCoy.
There are many variations of a traditional rice pudding, but this 1-2-3 is for a basic recipe. Once you know this recipe you can replace full fat milk with semi skimmed milk, use a jasmine infused rice and more.

Home-made Rice Pudding can be a little time consuming but it is well worth the effort. In fact there is very little effort needed and most of the time is due to the cooking time. So, let's get cooking!

Ingredients
To Serve 4 People:

• 50g or 2 ounces of Dessert Rice
• 600mls or one pint of whole milk
• 25g or one ounce of sugar
• 14g or 1/2 an ounce of Butter-optional.
• Ground Nutmeg-optional.
• Grease for the ovenproof dish.

Adjust the amounts for more, or less, servings.

Preparation
Preheat the oven to:
170C / 325F / Gas Mark 3.

If your oven is fan assisted adjust the temperature according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The Oven Dish

• Grease a one litre or two pint oven proof dish. Pyrex dishes are ideal.
• Rinse the rice thoroughly under cool water and drain.
• Add the Rice, Sugar and Milk to the greased, ovenproof dish.

Placing in your oven
Stir this mixture carefully, adding the knob of butter, if desired. Although this is not necessary, the butter will make the rice pudding taste more creamy.

Sprinkle the top of the pudding with nutmeg if desired. This will add a great traditional taste to the pudding but it is optional.

Place the ovenproof dish and its contents in the centre of the oven.

Baking
Stir the rice pudding mixture after 30 minutes. You may also want to turn the dish around, back to front, in the oven so that it cooks evenly.

Cooking time in total is 11/2 to 2 hours or until the surface of the pudding is a nice golden brown and the pudding is creamy.

You will need

• Caster Sugar or Brown Sugar
• Short Grain Rice
• Milk
• Butter
• Cream - Optional
• Jam - Optional
• Oven Proof Dish or Large Saucepan
• Ground Nutmeg - Optional
• Grease (for the dish)Time, as this dish can take up to two hours to cook.

Tips, Tricks, Hints & Warnings

• Try substituting semi skimmed or skimmed milk for whole milk.
• Add a little cream to the milk for a much creamier taste.
• Reduce the milk amount accordingly.
• Adjust the amount of sugar, if desired, as this recipe is for a sweet pudding.
• Serve with a spoon of Jam or Honey and make the pudding with less sugar.
• Experiment with different types of rice.
• Serve the rice pudding with some slices of fresh fruit.
• Serve the pudding hot or cold.
• Adjust the amount of milk for a pudding if you want a more liquid consistency.
• Add vanilla to the prepared ingredients for a creamy taste.
• Make Rice pudding when you have milk that needs using up
• Try to make this pudding when you will be using your oven to cook something else, such as a roast. This will save you money on fuel and help the environment. Every little helps.

Quick alternative ways to cook rice pudding

On the hob:-

• Place the rice and milk in a large saucepan and bring to the boil stirring occasionally.
• Simmer for around 40 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
• If the mixture seems to be drying out add a little more milk.
• Add the sugar and nutmeg just before serving.

In the microwave:-
For a 650w microwave:-

• Place the rice and milk in a very large microwaveable dish.
• A three pint bowl should be large enough.
• Cook on full power for about 20 minutes.
• Stir occasionally.
• Remove when cooked and add the sugar and nutmeg before serving.
• Stir well and leave to cool for a couple of minutes before actually serving.

Do not leave either of these dishes cooking completely unattended in case they boil over. Both of these recipes cut the cooking time. They make a tasty rice pudding but are not as good as the traditional, oven recipe.

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/25386/good-old-fashioned-baked-rice-pudding.aspx
​http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/hot-puddings/old-fashioned-rice-pudding