Danish Rice Pudding

 - Danish Recipe

Directions:

1. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, cook the milk and rice, stirring constantly. 

2. Once it simmers, turn the temperature lower, mix it, then put a lid on it. 

3. Weigh the sugar and cut the vanilla bean in half (the long way). 

4. Using a knife, scrape the inside of the vanilla bean into the sugar. 

5. Mix the vanilla bean contents into the sugar. 

6. Add the vanilla-sugar and the sugar bean shell into the sauce pan with the cooking rice. 

7. Mix the contents well together. 

8. Stirring frequently, allow the rice mixture to simmer for 40-50 minutes or until the rice is cooked all the way through and is easy to bite into. 

9. Remove the vanilla bean shells. 

10. Roughly chop the blanched almonds then mix them to the rice mixture with a pinch of salt.

  * To blanch the almonds (typically done the day before, but in this recipe it can be done while the rice is cooking): In a bowl, pour boiling water over the almonds and let them sit for up to 5 minutes. Pour out most of the water then, pressing on one end of the almond with two fingers (in a hard pinching kind of motion), pop the almond out of its skin. Discard the skin. Set the clean (blanched) almond on a rag and allow it to dry overnight (or for a few days if you live in a humid area). 

11. Store, covered in the fridge, overnight or for a few hours until it is completely cooled down. 

12. Whip the cream then fold it into the chilled rice mixture. 

13. If it is for christmas or an event, add a single, whole, blanched almond into the rice pudding and whoever finds the whole almond while eating it wins a prize. 

14. This rice pudding is also traditionally served with some cherry sauce (I prefer a mixed berry sauce). 

Notes:

- You can do this with normal rice; pearl rice is just the closest to the traditional danish way. 

- If you want it a little sweeter, you can add extra vanilla to it or sweeten the whipped cream with sifted powdered sugar. 

- This rice pudding can last in the fridge, covered, for 2-3 days. 

- There are many things you can add to this if you would like, such as: Crushed up vanilla wafers, graham crackers, fresh fruits, sauces, granola, and many more. I have just provided the traditional danish christmas recipe.