How to make a Dairy Free Rice Pudding

Are you searching for a delicious dairy free rice pudding recipe? Look no further! Whether you’re lactose intolerant or simply following a dairy free diet, this article explores a few ways of creating an amazing creamy rice pudding that will perfectly suit your dietary needs.

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Milky pudding is the ultimate comfort food and the key to creating a delicious dairy free rice pudding is finding suitable alternatives to traditional dairy products. Fortunately for us, there are many dairy free products available meaning that it is perfectly possible to create a rice pudding with all the creamy richness and flavour of a traditional rice pudding.

What kind of Rice is suitable for making a Rice Pudding

A good rice pudding start with choosing which rice to use. Well, in reality, all rice can be used to make a pudding. However, some types give much creamier results. I use short-grain, pudding rice, it’s an easy ingredient to find and relatively inexpensive. If you find that too ‘mushy’ or sticky for your liking then think about using a different type of rice and personalise the end results so that you enjoy this delicious milky dessert.

• long grain rice – may be used in making rice pudding. The rice grains remain separate with a little texture. It works well and I’ve used it many times.
• basmati rice – a lot like long grain rice in that the grains retain some texture in the pudding but the coconut milk overwhelms the subtle aroma of the basmati.
• jasmine basmati rice – this is a lot like basmati rice. The gentle aroma of the jasmine rice tends to get lost amongst the other flavours.
• pudding rice or short grain rice – tend to make the creamiest puddings. The rice doesn’t keep its texture and sometimes this is just what you want.
• risotto rice or arborio rice – like pudding or short grain rice, these lose a lot of their texture when cooked, which is perfect for a really creamy milk rice pudding recipe.
• brown rice or brown basmati rice – These types of rice keep a lot of texture in a rice pudding. I prefer to keep these for savoury meals.

Coconut Milk – Delicious and Creamy

One excellent substitute for dairy milk in a rice pudding is coconut milk. It has a nice creamy consistency and mild flavour which complements the rice beautifully.

This makes a rice pudding which is warming, creamy and slightly spicy from the addition of cinnamon (The cinnamon is optional but it does taste good.) Add a little chopped fresh mango and perhaps a few extra berries and you turn this simple milk pudding into something quite exotic.

Excitingly, this pudding cooks quickly using only one saucepan and takes only minutes on the hob. No long baking times. You’ll be able to enjoy milky desserts more often. In fact, it’s healthy enough to eat for breakfast as well as dessert.

Features of a Dairy Free Rice Pudding Recipe

This simple and easy dairy-free dessert is;

• creamy both in texture and taste.
• uses everyday ingredients.
• is refined sugar-free.
• slightly spicy with the addition of ground cinnamon (The Cinnamon is optional but delicious.).
• simple to make.
• requires just one saucepan and a few minutes (35 altogether) to cook. So much faster than an oven-baked version.
• makes good use of alternative milk products to create a pudding that doesn’t compromise on taste or texture.

Making Rice Pudding with Coconut Milk

To make a delicious dairy-free rice pudding using coconut milk, follow these simple steps:

This couldn’t be simpler or more straightforward.

• Wash the rice to remove any excess starch.
• In a saucepan, combine the rinsed rice and coconut milk. Allow it to simmer gently over a low heat until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
• Stir it occasionally to prevent it from catching on the bottom of the pan.
• Sweeten the pudding with your choice of natural sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar. (I usually use maple syrup, which is an unrefined sweetener.) Stir well.
• Make any adjustments you need to, to the sweetness or consistency.
  • Add more milk if it gets too thick.
  • Cook a little longer if it seems too thin.
• For extra flavour, you can enhance your dairy-free rice pudding by adding ingredients such as vanilla extract, cinnamon, or nutmeg.
• Once you’re happy with it, turn off the heat. Let the pudding cool for a while before serving. You can enjoy it warm or chilled, according to your preferencea. and serve with fresh fruit. Berries and chopped fresh mango go very well with these flavours.

Making a Dairy free Rice Pudding with Almond Milk

Another easily available dairy alternative is Almond Milk. With its smooth texture and slightly nutty taste, almond milk makes a great rice pudding.

The steps involved in making an almond milk rice pudding are very similar to those for making a coconut milk version but follow these steps to create a creamy, delicious almond milk-based rice pudding:

• Rinse the rice under cold water to remove any excess starch.
• in a saucepan, combine the rinsed rice and almond milk. Simmer the mixture over low heat until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
• Sweeten the pudding using natural sweeteners like dates, raisins, or stevia. I like to add maple syrup as this is an unrefined sugar and my family loves the flavour.
• Stir well and give it a taste to check that everything is as you like it.
• Other things you may wish to consider when making your dairy-free rice pudding made with almond milk is adding a little almond extract, cardamom, or a hint of rosewater to the pudding.
• Allow the rice pudding to cool before serving. You can enjoy this dessert either warm or chilled, based on your preference.

Using other Milk alternatives to make a Dairy free Rice Pudding

While coconut milk and almond milk are popular choices, don’t limit yourself! Feel free to explore other dairy free milk alternatives such as oat milk, soya milk, hazelnut milk or cashew milk. Plus there are also dairy milk products that have had lactose removed. Each milk product brings its own flavour, which means that you can use it to create a rice pudding that suits your own taste preferences.

Variations and Serving Suggestions

There are just a few things that you can do to personalise this recipe, to make it more suited to your tastes.

• To make your dairy free rice pudding irresistible, consider topping it with fresh fruits, toasted nuts, or a sprinkle of spice. The possibilities are endless, and you can get creative with combinations like mango and coconut, mixed berries and almond flakes, or cinnamon and caramelized apples. Use it to make the best of seasonal fruits.
• add a 1/2 cup (100g) of raisins to turn it into coconut milk and raisin rice pudding.
• How about a further drizzle of maple syrup or fruit compote? Or a dollop of jam, it doesn’t always have to be fancy.
• Use a different sweetener. Maple syrup can be changed to sugar, agave nectar or honey. You may not need as much honey as maple syrup as it can be quite a strong flavour.

Storing this pudding

This pudding should be eaten fresh. Rice can be a difficult foodstuff to store safely because of spores which are a natural part of the rice grain. If left to cool naturally it can create the perfect conditions to grow bacteria, which in turn can lead to stomach upsets if we then eat it.

If you wish to reheat rice pudding it should be done quickly, so heat it quickly in a saucepan on the hob and not slowly in an oven which again can lead to the growth of bacteria.

There is more information in this article (Is it safe to reheat rice pudding) if you’re interested.

Conclusion

Whatever your reason for looking for a recipe for a dairy free rice pudding it is possible by using alternative milk options like coconut milk, almond milk, or other dairy free alternatives. Enjoy a creamy and flavoursome rice pudding that perfectly suits your dietary requirements. If you’re lactose intolerant or avoiding dairy products for other reasons surprise yourself with just how delicious this rice pudding can be. Plus you know that each delicious spoonful of this creamy dessert is free from dairy but certainly not lacking in taste.

Other delicious pudding and dessert recipes;

• Chocolate chip pancakes
• Chocolate lava puddings
• Easy Vanilla chia Seed pudding
• Easy Strawberry Chia Pudding Recipe
• How to make Lemon Chia Seed Pudding

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