Nigerian Rice Pudding
A comforting vegetarian built around white rice, water and whole milk — roughly 60 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 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 (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Dairy Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear, then drain well.
- Combine the rice, water, and salt in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer gently for about 12 minutes until most of the water is absorbed and the rice is partly tender.
- Pour in the milk and sugar, then cook uncovered over low heat, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is soft and the mixture turns thick and creamy.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg, then temper it by whisking in a few spoonfuls of the hot rice mixture so the egg warms gradually without scrambling.
- Stir the tempered egg back into the saucepan and cook gently for 2 to 3 more minutes, stirring constantly, until the pudding thickens and the egg is fully cooked through.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon.
- Serve the rice pudding warm, or chill it for a couple of hours and dust with a little extra cinnamon before serving.
You'll use: Saucepan · Pan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
Tips & common questions
How long does Nigerian 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 milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. 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 Nigerian Rice Pudding vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Nigerian Rice Pudding is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Tuwo shinkafa made with rice.jpg by Bukky658, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.