Since the pandemic started, people have been making a fuss about the recipes they can make by only using a microwave. One of these is a rice pudding. Did you know that you can turn your regular rice into a dessert in very few and easy steps?
This recipe is perfect for your late-night cravings, desserts, or even for your afternoon snack. Time to take out your leftover rice from your fridge as you discover how to make a rice pudding using your microwave.
Let’s get creative and make something great out of your leftover rice.
What Do You Need?
- 3 medium eggs
- 2 cups of short-grained, cooked rice (can use leftover rice, too)
- ⅓ cup of sugar
- 2 cups of milk, any fat percentage works fine
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
To start, beat the eggs in your microwavable bowl. Then, add sugar, milk, and salt and continue mixing until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
Add your raisins (if you opt to use them), rice, and vanilla, and continue mixing. This is now ready to be cooked in your microwave.
Pop it right into your microwave without cover and set the timer to ten minutes. Take note that you must gently stir every two minutes.
You can serve immediately or allow it to cool first and refrigerate for about thirty minutes before serving.
What Is the Best Rice Variety for Rice Pudding?
You can use a different variety of rice to make a rice pudding. Each rice variety will have a different result to your end-product.
Short Grain Rice
Your rice pudding will be chewy and soft but not mushy. If you choose short-grained rice, preferably, you may use Jasmine rice.
This is usually preferred when making rice pudding.
Long Grain Rice
If you prefer firm rice in your rice pudding, long-grain white rice is suitable for this. This is also fine, but the rice won’t blend in with the creamy sauce of your rice pudding.
Risotto Rice
This is also just as good as your short-grained rice but usually takes a longer time to cook.
How to Cook Rice for Rice Pudding
If you don’t have any leftover rice, you can also use freshly cooked rice for this recipe. It will work perfectly fine, too. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cook rice for this recipe.
Before you start, rinse the rice with water twice. Then, measure 1 cup of rice and pour it into your cooking pot. Add one and a half cups of water, cover with the lid and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat until the rice is cooked.
You would know that it is done cooking when you see that it’s already soft and has a fluffy texture and when the water has cooked out the rice already. This process will take around 20 to 35 minutes.
Alternatively, you can also use a rice cooker. Follow the same ratio of water to rice when you cook it using a pot. Cover it with the lid and start cooking the rice. Wait for the rice cooker to do its magic.
When the rice is now cooked, the rice cooker will automatically switch to “keep warm.” You may want to wait for an additional 5 to 10 minutes before you unplug the rice cooker to ensure that the rice is cooked perfectly.
How to Make Rice Pudding in the Microwave with No Eggs
If you’re not fond of eggs, you can still make rice pudding without them. Alternatively, you can use the following ingredients:
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup cooked white rice
- 2 tablespoons raisins (optional)
Mix the milk, sugar, heavy cream, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt in a bowl. Do this until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Add the rice and the raisins (optional) into your mixture and continue to stir.
Remember to use a microwave oven-safe container, or you can even use a mug.
Cook in a microwave on a high setting and stir every thirty seconds. Do this until you can observe that the mixture is slightly thickened. Do this for around 2 and a half minutes.
Your rice pudding is now ready to be served. Again, rice puddings can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference.
Rice Pudding Topping Ideas
Now that you have your rice pudding ready, make it a little fancy by adding some of the suggested toppings on the list.
- Nuts (preferably, you can use almonds)
- Whipped cream
- Granola
- Dried fruits
- Fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries)
- Banana slices
- Honey
- Caramel
- Vanilla ice cream
Your favorite not on the list? You can add some other toppings to your liking.
Is Rice Pudding a Healthy Snack?
Rice pudding is perhaps one of the best ways to enjoy rice. As far as desserts are concerned, it counts as a healthy choice. This recipe has approximately 150 calories per serving of ½ cup.
Compared to other desserts, such as ice cream with 200 calories, rice pudding is the better choice when concerned with your calorie intake.
You can also use whole grain rice as a healthier alternative. Compared to white rice, it has more fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Alternatively, you can have a rice pudding that is partly brown rice and partly short-grained white rice.
You can also use low-fat or non-fat milk to lessen the fat in this recipe for the milk. As for the sugar, you may diminish or substitute this with honey or maple sugar. You won’t notice a change in its taste.
Try this healthier version of rice pudding for those who are watching their food intake. Perfect for vegans, too! Here’s what you need:
- Long Grain White Rice
- A box of coconut milk or almond milk
- Sea Salt
- Maple Sugar
- Raisins
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Ground Cinnamon
In a saucepan, add the rinsed rice and pour in some water just enough to cover the rice in your pan. Cover your rice and bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a low setting. Let the water reduce for around 10 minutes. Just make sure that the water has not completely evaporated.
Next, add coconut milk (or your almond milk), cinnamon sticks, and salt. Let this simmer for around twenty-five minutes without its cover.
Continuously stir to make sure that the rice won’t stick on the surface of your pan. Then, add your raisins and maple sugar into your pan.
Cook for another fifteen minutes while stirring continuously until the rice thickens and your coconut milk is finally reduced.
You may now remove the cinnamon sticks and sprinkle some ground cinnamon on top.
You can either serve this hot or cold, depending on your liking.
This rice pudding can be kept inside a refrigerator for two days. But if you want to reheat the rice pudding, place it in a saucepan and add some milk. You can heat this over low heat until it is hot.
There you have it! Enjoy your homemade snack with less guilt.
