Vanilla Bean Basmati Rice Pudding

This Vanilla Bean Basmati Rice Pudding is creamy, sweet, and oh so delicious! Serve it warm or serve it cold... either way, you'll find yourself going back for another bowlful.

The Real Co. provided me with a sample bag of their white basmati rice to try at no cost to me. I did not accept monetary compensation for this post; however, this post does contain affiliate product links. Clicking on the links may result in my being paid a commission based on product sales. Regardless of commission, all opinions expressed in this post are my own. For more information, please review our site policies.

You guys, yesterday was HARD.

The sweet girl who made my Mother's Day so wonderful (with the help of her dad, of course) disappeared. In her place was a toddling terror I didn't recognize. It was almost as if she were giving us a sneak preview of what she might be like during the Terrible Twos.

Keeping up with her tiring. And frustrating. And I hit a wall by the time I put her down for her nap. I was hoping that a little rest would help her, but the afternoon was just as difficult as the morning.

It was so tempting to call it a day and go to bed after she was down for the night. But I needed to do something for myself... something to recover. I decided to unwind by writing so I could share another story with you.

Remember when I told you I'd be sharing a recipe for a dessert I never thought I'd like? Well, my dear friends... the time is now!

When I was younger, I shied away from rice pudding because I didn't like the texture of it. I spent the majority of my adult life ignoring it on dessert menus because I was positive that I still didn't like it. But after one kind gesture, my opinion was forever changed.

I was picking up a take-out order from one of our favorite restaurants. While I was paying for our food, one of the co-owners started telling me about their rice pudding. Without telling him why, I confessed that I had never tried it before. And without skipping a beat, Matt put a container of it in my bag with the rest of the food.

I had intended to give the rice pudding to Stephen because it's more up his alley. Out of gratefulness, though, I tried a little spoonful. And then a big spoonful. And then, before I knew it, I had eaten every last bite without sharing any of it with my husband.

Oops.

To make up for it, I started experimenting with rice pudding recipes so we could have it for dessert at home. Because we had a bag of basmati rice in our pantry, I focused on recipes that called for that particular type of rice.

This recipe wound up being perfect. Not only could I use the basmati rice, but I could also use some of the vanilla beans I had on hand after making ice cream. I had only ever used basmati rice as an accompaniment for savory dishes, so the idea of using it to create something sweet made me super happy.

As it was cooking, the intoxicating aroma of vanilla filled the house. It pulled me in and compelled me to steal a few spoonfuls of rice pudding out of the pot before it had finished cooking. And, because we couldn't wait to eat it once it was ready, I served it warm.

Creamy. Sweet. And oh so delicious!

Now, I admit it. My rice pudding isn't as good as the stuff at Mitzi's Table. Something's missing from my version that I can't quite put my finger on. Even so, I think my version is pretty darn tasty... and great served warm or cold.

When we can't get over to the restaurant for rice pudding, it's nice to know I can make a batch at home that comes pretty close.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Also, did any of you out there have kids who skipped straight to the Terrible Twos phase after turning one? How did you handle it?!?

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One year ago: Menu Plan: May 10 - May 16
Two years ago: Scotty's Breakfast - North Haven, CT
Three years ago: Fashionable Fitness Wear from Albion Fit {and a Giveaway}
Four years ago: The JC100: A Celebration of Julia Child {Recipe: Rolled Omelette}
Five years ago: Roasted Curried Cauliflower
Six years ago: Featured Friday, Volume 1.5
Seven years ago: Taste As You Go Has Been Adopted

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