Healthy Italian Rice Pudding Recipe: Stovetop Method

Arborio rice pudding sprinkled with cinnamon powder in a white dessert dish.

Healthy Italian Rice Pudding Recipe: Stovetop Method

Creamy, comforting Arborio rice pudding made without eggs or heavy cream! This easy stovetop recipe is rich, delicious, and ready in an hour. Serve this easy, no-bake dessert warm or cold any time of the year!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 50

Total Time 55

Servings servings

Calories 192kcal

Author Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

½ cup arborio rice
4 cups milk 2% or whole milk
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt optional
½ vanilla bean seeds scraped or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
sprinkle cinnamon optional

Instructions

Combine rice, milk, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan.
Heat until just beginning to boil, stirring often.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for approximately 50 minutes or until thick and creamy. Stir every 10 minutes or so.
Remove from heat.
Gently stir in the scraped vanilla seeds or extract.
Can be served warm, room temperature or chilled.
WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE RECIPE CARD TO SEE HOW EASY THIS RECIPE IS TO MAKE!

Video

Notes

Using 2% milk will result in a healthier version of this rice pudding compared to using either whole milk, heavy or whipped cream.
The total amount of saturated fat is lower compared to a recipe that includes eggs, whipped or heavy cream or even whole milk as part of the ingredients.
Be patient. Do not increase the heat, hoping this will reduce the total cooking time. Go slow and low and you will be rewarded with a super creamy and chewy texture.
In the beginning, be sure to constantly stir the mixture to prevent the milk and rice from scorching.
During the last 10 minutes, stay close to your large saucepan and keep stirring every few minutes to prevent your rice pudding from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Arborio rice will provide you with the best texture.
This homemade rice pudding will firm up once it has been chilled. It can easily be returned to its creamy state by adding a few tablespoons of milk, stirring and slightly heating the mixture.

Can you make rice pudding with cooked rice? Yes, but the end product will not be super creamy when compared to a rice pudding made from uncooked rice.

Do you refrigerate rice pudding? Yes, allow to cool leftover arborio rice pudding completely to room temperature. Then store in an airtight container or in a dish covered with cling wrap. Refrigerate and consume within 5 days.

Can you freeze rice pudding? Yes, it can also be frozen for up to three months although the texture will change slightly upon thawing. Simply place in individual freezer-safe containers, label and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge when you're ready to enjoy it.

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.

*recipe lightly adapted from Homemakers' Magazine

Nutrition