Romanian Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is one of the most beloved Romanian childhood desserts — simple, creamy, and comforting. Round-grain rice is slowly simmered in full-fat milk with sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest, resulting in a dense, fragrant cream. Served warm or cold, with ground cinnamon, jam, or whipped cream, it is the quintessential homemade dessert.
Servings
4
Prep
5 min
Cook
35–40 min
Total
45 min
🥘Ingredients
servings
Main ingredients
Topping and decoration
✅Dietary Compatibility
Yield
approx. 4 servings (720 g)
📦Storage
Refrigerator
Keeps for 3 days in the refrigerator in a covered container. It thickens on cooling — add 2–3 tablespoons of warm milk and stir before serving to restore creaminess.
Freezer
Not recommended — the texture becomes grainy and watery after thawing.
🥗Nutrition Facts
Values per serving (approx. 180 g), without topping
Calories
210 kcal
Protein
6 g
Fat
6 g
Carbohydrates
33 g
Fiber
0.3 g
🍷Pairs Well With
💡Variations
Coconut milk rice pudding: replace 400 ml of the milk with coconut milk for an exotic, lactose-free variation with a tropical flavour.
Baked rice pudding: pour the half-cooked rice into a baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 160°C, uncover for the last 10 minutes to develop a golden crust on top.
Rice pudding with raisins and orange: add 50 g raisins and the grated zest of 1 orange for a more aromatic and denser variation.