Roberta Bailey’s Perfect Rice Pudding

Recipe by Roberta Bailey

Roberta Bailey is a farmer and gardener who grows garlic, hot peppers, and much more with her husband Rob Lemire in Vassalboro. She has experimented with crops of rice in her home garden and shared this special recipe for a perfect rice pudding.

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Makes

6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 cup long-grain rice
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ vanilla bean cut in half lengthwise
  • 1 cup raisins
  • Ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the water, butter, salt, and zest. Bring to a boil, then stir in rice and return to a boil. Cover and simmer over very low heat for 15–25 minutes, until the water is absorbed. The heat can be shut off just before the water is gone.
  • In a 3-quart saucepan, combine milk, sugar, and vanilla bean and bring to a simmer over low heat. Do not boil. Add rice mixture and raisins and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the milk is absorbed and the rice is creamy. Transfer the pudding to a glass, ceramic, or metal bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cool to just warm and serve.

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