Lebanese Rice Pudding {Riz Bi Haleeb} with rose water, and pistachios! This middle eastern rice pudding is simple, home made, and complete of creamy goodness!

Ramsha Baig

This Lebanese rice pudding is a perfect balance of candy and nutty flavors. the quick-grain rice is cooked in milk till smooth and creamy, then flavored with vanilla extract and rose water. The pistachios add a delicious crunchy texture and taste to the pudding. Serve this dessert cold or heat for a special deal with!

If you love Middle Eastern desserts then you should try my recipe of Maamoul date cookies.

Overhead shot of two bowls of Lebanese Rice Pudding garnished with chopped pistachios and two serving spoons spark off to side.
the principle distinction among conventional old style rice pudding and this Lebanese model, known as Riz Bi Haleeb, is the use of rose water to scent the rice pudding and add a hint of floral sweeteners. you could find rose water in maximum super markets or online. I really like to use this Lebanese brand, however any properly nice rose water will paintings.

Lebanese Rice Pudding

Why You’ll Love This Rose Water Lebanese Rice Pudding

• Creamy goodness. This rice pudding is ultra creamy and comforting. It’s the best dessert for a cold winter night time or a hot summer day.
• Rose water taste. The addition of rose water offers this pudding a completely unique flavor that you’ll love. in case you’ve never attempted rose water before, don’t worry, it’s no longer as robust as you would possibly suppose. It just provides a pleasing floral taste to the pudding.
• Smooth to make. This pudding is so smooth to make. You’ll be making it all the time! simply cook dinner the rice in milk till smooth, then stir in the vanilla extract and rose water. top with pistachios, and also you’re carried out!

Ingredients to Make Lebanese Rice Pudding

• Brief grain rice: i love to use sushi rice or arborio rice for this pudding. you could use any sort of brief-grain rice you like.
• Milk: I advocate the usage of whole milk for this pudding, however you may use any kind of milk you want.
• Sugar: you can use any form of sugar you want, however I opt to use granulated sugar or cane sugar.
• Rose water: that is the key aspect that offers this pudding its precise taste. you can discover rose water in maximum middle eastern markets or online.
• Vanilla extract: that is optionally available, but i really like to add a touch vanilla extract for flavor.
• Cornstarch: i like to add a bit cornstarch to thicken the pudding. you may miss it in case you choose, however I assume it makes the pudding creamier.
• Pistachios: these are optionally available for topping, but I think they add a pleasing crunchy texture and taste to the pudding. you can use any form of nut you like, but I suppose pistachios are the first-class!

How to Make Lebanese Rice Pudding

• Add the rice and water to a huge pot.
• Cook dinner the rice with the water till the water is absorbed.
• Add the milk at the side of the sugar to the pot of rice.
• Cook until the milk begins to thicken and takes on greater of a pudding consistency.

Tips for Making Riz Bi Haleeb

1. Don’t rinse the rice. In maximum rice recipes, it’s first-rate to rinse rice to take away the starchy layer, so your cooked rice is not sticky. but, we want rice pudding to be sticky! So, don’t rinse it, and it’ll assist enhance that traditional creamy texture.
2. cook the rice until it’s very gentle. Rice pudding is all about that creamy texture, so that you need to make sure the rice is cooked till it’s very gentle. i like to cook dinner mine for about 30 minutes.
3. add the rose water at the cease for a stronger presence. if you add the rose water at the start of cooking, it will use up and be greater subtle in flavor. in case you need a more robust rose water flavor, upload it at the stop.
4. Be affected person while cooking. Rice pudding takes time to cook, so be affected person! It’s really worth the wait, I promise!

Popular Substitutions & Additions (Lebanese Rice Pudding)

• Try it with sushi rice or Arborio rice. Sushi rice is a quick-grain rice that is used in, you guessed it, sushi! It has a higher starch content than different types of rice, so it’s ideal for making creamy rice pudding. Arborio rice is any other kind of short-grain rice that is often utilized in risotto. It has a excessive starch content material, so it will make your pudding extra creamy.
• Add or swap orange blossom water. I most effective use rose water, but you could also add orange blossom water, which has a extra citrus flavor that balances out the floral flavor.
• Use plant-based totally milk. if you’re looking for a dairy-unfastened choice, strive the usage of plant-based totally milk which includes almond milk or coconut milk.
• Pass over the cornstarch. The cornstarch is non-compulsory, however i really like to add it as it makes the pudding creamier. if you don’t want to apply it, you could omit it.
• Add cardamom or cinnamon. For a little greater flavor, try adding a pinch of ground cardamom or cinnamon.
• Have a laugh with the toppings. ground pistachios are the most famous toppings. but you can also add different kinds of finely chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans. different popular toppings encompass shredded coconut, cinnamon, clean fruit, and fit for human consumption flora.

How to Store & Reheat Homemade Lebanese Rice Pudding?

keep any leftover pudding in an hermetic field in the fridge.

Lebanese rice pudding is great enjoyed bloodless, however in case you prefer it warmed, you could reheat it stovetop over low heat or inside the microwave. make sure to stir regularly, so it doesn’t persist with the bottom of the pot or burn.

How Lengthy Will Lebanese Rice Pudding Remaining Within the Fridge?

Homemade rice pudding will closing inside the refrigerator for up to at least one week. After that, it’s going to begin to destroy and is not secure to consume.

Frequently Asked Questions

My rice pudding is just too thick. What can i do?
if your pudding is simply too thick, you could add a bit more milk until it reaches the favored consistency.

My rice pudding is just too thin. What am i able to do?
in case your pudding is simply too thin, you could add a touch greater cornstarch and prepare dinner for an extra minute or two.

I cooked the rice as directed. Why is it nevertheless crunchy?
ensure you use brief-grain rice for this recipe. lengthy-grain rice like basmati or jasmine will not paintings as well because they have got a lower starch content material and exclusive cooking instances and can result in crunchy rice. additionally, make sure you check the consistency of your rice earlier than you pull it off the range. it may want a further minute or .

I don’t have rose water. am i able to use some thing else?
in case you don’t have rose water, you could attempt orange blossom water or truly leave out it altogether. The pudding will nevertheless be scrumptious!

Is there a vegan version of this recipe?
yes! simply switch out the milk for plant-based milk, and also you’re desirable to move.
Spoon scooping up rice pudding topped with beaten pistachios.

This Lebanese rice pudding recipe is best for all people seeking out a tasty, creamy dessert. With some simple tweaks, you can make it match your nutritional needs or choices. make certain to try out unique toppings to change up the taste profile. And most significantly, revel in!