Italian Rice Pudding
If you've got risotto rice and half and half, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 60 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for saucepan and pan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (2)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Combine the water, salt and strips of lemon peel in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Stir in the risotto rice, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the water is absorbed.
- Pour in the half and half and the sugar, then continue to cook uncovered over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
- Simmer gently for another 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often, until the rice is tender and the mixture has thickened to a creamy pudding consistency.
- Remove and discard the lemon peel, then stir in the butter until melted and glossy.
- Take the pan off the heat and let the pudding rest for a few minutes, keeping in mind it will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Spoon the pudding into serving dishes, dust each with ground cinnamon, and serve warm or chilled.
You'll use: Saucepan · Pan
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
Tips & common questions
How long does Italian Rice Pudding take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Italian Rice Pudding vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Italian Rice Pudding is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Crispelle di Riso - St Joseph's Rice fritters.jpg by Recipetaster, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.