I am a day late for French Fridays with Dorie, but it was worth the wait! We made Rice Pudding and Caramel Apples this week.
Rice pudding is something I have never made before. I have hardly ever even eaten it before. But it it something I have always known I would like. Any vanilla-flavored pudding is good in my book!
This rice pudding is different because it is made with Arborio rice, which retains some chewiness. It is topped with a delicious caramel sauce and apples.
I loved this dessert! The pudding is creamy and rich, with a wonderful vanilla flavor. The caramel apples are a great touch, but I can also imagine all sorts of toppings for the pudding. My husband liked the flavors, but didn’t care for the texture of the Arborio rice; he prefers his rice pudding a little less “grainy”. I would love to try this pudding with jasmine rice.
If you are interested in making Rice Pudding and Caramel Apples, you can find it in Dorie Greenspan’s book Around My French Table, or check it out here.
From Scratch 
I was a rice pudding newbie too. It was delicious, but it did kind of tie me to the stove for the better part of the afternoon. I could see this being a great rainy day recipe when I don’t have anything better to do.
This was good, wasn’t it. The apples – eat those with a spoon!!
Rice pudding is great with jasmine rice, and also basmati. I usually make it with leftover rice. I thought the apples were the best part of this recipe. I’m trying to think up new ways to use my next batch of caramelized apples.
I have never used any kind of rice to make it before, since I havent made it before and found that I really enjoyed it and using abrorio rice would never have entered my thoughts. Probably would have figured there was some kind of special rice? 🙂 great job!
I do have a new pack of abrorio rice but had another short grain rice which I had used for a risotto and a paela before; worked too for the pudding. Love love the presentation of your pudding!
I was surprised about the choice of Arborio rice but we did enjoy it a lot- surprise, Dorie was right again 🙂 But you do have me intrigued about the jasmine rice so I will need to try that when I revisit this one again. Thx for the tip !! Tricia
The Arborio was different, but I did like the texture – I usually use basmati when I make rice pudding.
And yes, with all those good things going in, how could you go wrong??? 🙂
You are right Karen, any vanilla flavored pudding has to be good! Yours looks great. This was my first rice pudding and I think it would be interesting to try it with other rices!
I had never made rice pudding before and have eaten it, well, not very often. I liked the pudding but would rather have eaten it without the caramelized apples. I love carmel and apple but think they should be on a stick! Your lovely dessert dishes with the pudding look delicious. Jasmine rice? Why not.
I finally made this (a year late) and am catching up on everyone’s posts. I loved this and it seems almost everyone else did, too. Your presentation is pretty and I think jasmine rice would make an interesting variation – makes me think of Asian spices with it.