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Rhubarb Rice Pudding
(recipe, Sophie Dahl)
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Introduction
I used to pick rhubarb in my granny Gee-Gee's garden when I was about seven, with a bowl of sugar clutched in my fat little hand. The trick was to lick the rhubarb, dip it in the sugar, and crunch away. I would always do it in excess, which was a surefire way to aching guts, and Gee-Gee clucking over me with some milk of magnesia.
Prepared this way, you have all the joy without the pain, and if you have access to a bumper crop, follow Mrs. Beeton's example and make some jam.
Ingredients
For the pudding
- 4 cups (1 liter) milk, plus more as needed
- ¾ cup (150 grams) basmati rice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¼ cup (80 grams) agave nectar or honey
- 1 tsp. orange-flower water
For the rhubarb
- 12 oz. (350 grams) rhubarb, cut into 1-inch lengths
- ½ cup (125 milliliters) water
- 1 star anise
- 1 tsp. rose water
- 2 Tbsp. agave nectar or honey
Steps
- Make the rice pudding: Pour the milk and rice into a medium saucepan, add the cinnamon stick, bring to a boil, and then simmer over very low heat, stirring frequently, for around 30 minutes. At this point, stir in the agave or honey and orange-flower water and cook another 5 to 10 minutes, adding more milk if the pudding starts looking dry.
- Make the rhubarb: In a separate heavy-bottomed saucepan, place the rhubarb, water, star anise, rose water, and agave or honey. Bring to a boil and simmer on low for about 10 minutes, turning once or twice, until you have lovely tender pink softness.
- Assemble and serve the pudding: Plate the rice pudding and swirl the rhubarb through.