Vegetarian Recipe: Chilled Banana and Pistachio Rice Pudding

Every week on the Good Food Blog we celebrate Meatless Monday by sharing a vegetarian recipe from our archives.

Noelle Carter runs the LA Times Test Kitchen, located in Downtown LA. She first shared this recipe for Chilled Banana and Pistachio Rice Pudding on October 24, 2009.

Photo by Kirk McKoy

Keep reading for the full recipe…

Chilled Banana and Pistachio Rice Pudding

Serves 4-6

Note: Adapted from Wine Bistro Pierre Lafond

1/2 Tablespoon butter

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 cup basmati rice, rinsed and drained

2 cups milk

1 cup cream

1/4 cup pistachios, shelled and chopped, plus extra for garnish, if desired

1 banana

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in the cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

2. Stir in the rice, milk and cream. Bring the mixture to a simmer over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook the rice, uncovered, until very tender, stirring occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Remove from the heat and set the pan aside, uncovered, until the rice cools to room temperature, about 30 minutes to 1 hour. (The pudding will be very soupy at first, but will thicken as the rice continues to absorb the liquid as it cools in the pan.) When the rice is almost cooled, peel and dice the banana.

4. Stir in the pistachios and banana, then cover and refrigerate the pudding until well chilled. Garnish with extra pistachios if desired. This makes about 3 cups rice pudding.