Pan (rice) Pudding

There are few things that bring comfort like a warm pan settled on the lap, filled to the brim with rice pudding. It doesn’t hurt that it’s super creamy and flecked with freshy grated nutmeg, either. Oh. And there’s Bourbon. Didn’t I mention that? All in all, a delectable feast.

And it all starts with simple rice.

Well…as you may have guessed, not just any rice will do. You can’t set aside that gelatinous rectangle squeezed from your Chinese leftover container and expect the same results as say…Arborio.

For those of you unfamiliar with this heaven-sent starch, it’s the short-grained Italian rice used for risotto. And that same creaminess, that same richness, that same lick the bottom of the pan goodness lends itself to this wonderful pudding. And, it’s surprisingly easy to make.

First, a half cup Arborio rice is set in a saucepan, along with a cup and a half whole milk and three tablespoons raw sugar. The pan is set on low heat and stirred continually until the milk thickens nicely and the rice is transparent. But make sure you get the timing right. Too early and it’s just milk and rice. Too late and it’s a glob. How it’s checked is this: Dip your spoon in the pan and pull out a bit. Is it all together in a beautiful melody of loveliness—or can you clearly see rice and milk? If so, keep stirring. It never hurt anyone to take a taste now and again, either. You know, just to make sure.

Once it’s there, turn off the heat and stir in a tablespoon good bourbon (or a teaspoon vanilla, if that’s your thing) along with a good pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. In this case, the freshly grated really does make a difference. I tend to like a good dried cherry or ten, so a handful (quarter cup) gets tossed in as well. All is stirred and let to sit for a moment—just until those cherries have softened and start singing for you.

Now, the thing about pan pudding is that you eat is straight from the pan, while it’s still nice and warm. There are actually people out there who aren’t into that kind of thing. Yes. Who like their pudding in a bowl—or worse yet—chilled. If that’s your thing, have at it. As for me and my house? We have ours the way it was intended—full of warmth and comfort and cozy laps.