rice pudding with toasted nuts

How to make rice pudding with toasted nuts recipe

Serves 4

Preparation time 5 minutes, Cooking time 35–30 minutes

Ingredients:
125 g (4 oz) brown pudding rice
750 ml (1¼ pints) skimmed or semi-skimmed milk
2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
finely grated rind of ½ lemon
25 g (1 oz) soft dark brown sugar, plus extra to serve (optional)
1 vanilla pod, split in half lengthways
100 g (3½ oz) mixed blanched nuts, such as Brazil nuts, hazelnuts and shelled pistachio nuts

Method:
Put the rice in a heavy-based saucepan with the milk, cardamom, lemon rind and sugar. Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla pod and place over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, partially cover and simmer very gently, stirring regularly, for 25–30 minutes, or until the rice is tender and creamy, adding more milk if necessary.

Meanwhile, place the nuts in a small freezer bag and tap lightly with a rolling pin until they are crushed but not ground. Tip into a nonstick frying pan and dry-fry over a low heat for 5–6 minutes, stirring continuously, until golden. Tip on to a plate and leave to cool.

Spoon the rice pudding into deep bowls and sprinkle over a little extra brown sugar, if liked. Scatter over the toasted nuts and serve immediately.

For fresh fig compote, to serve as an accompaniment, put 4 roughly chopped fresh figs and 125 ml (4 fl oz) apple juice in a small pan and simmer gently for 10–12 minutes or until the fruit is tender. Either leave the compote chunky or blend to a purée in a food processor or blender.

rice pudding with toasted nuts