Lebanese Rice Pudding Dessert

‘Ruz- b haleeb’ which translates to ‘rice in milk’ is a traditional Lebanese dessert typically served on special occasions. Simple, delicious, and easy to make, this desert is perfect for summer days.

What you need:

• 4 cups of milk
• 10-12 tsp sugar (to taste)
• ½ cup of rice
• 2-4 T of corn flour
• 2 tsp orange blossom water
• Pistachio as a garnish

Here’s how:

Rinse the rice then let dry.

Boil the milk with the sugar and rice on low heat for 15 minutes or until the rice softens all while stirring continuously.

As the rice softens add the orange blossom water and the corn flour and stir it in and boil/stir for another 5 minutes or until the pudding hardens and gains the consistency of yogurt. If you add too much corn flour the pudding becomes too jello-like and if you add little it’ll take on a more watery consistency. This is a personal preference. Try adding 2 first then increase if you need to.

As the pudding thickens, pour it in your heat-resistant serving dessert cups and let rest for a few minutes before garnishing with pistachio and refrigerating.

Serve cold.