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Saffron rijstpap

Saffron rice porridge

Rijstpap met saffraan: Flemish creamy rice porridge with saffron and brown sugar

Flemish rijstpap, rice slowly cooked in milk until thick and creamy, is a breakfast, a pudding and a childhood memory, and in East and West Flanders it is coloured golden with saffron and eaten with a spoonful of brown sugar. Old Flemish sayings even promise that in heaven you eat rijstpap with golden spoons. The mistake is cooking it too fast: the milk catches on the bottom and the rice stays chalky, so keep it at the barest simmer and stir often. Chef's tip: use round pudding rice, not long-grain, because its starch is what makes the porridge thick and silky without any cream.
Total time
60 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Rinse a heavy saucepan with cold water (this helps stop milk catching), then add 4 ¼ cups whole milk, 1 pinch saffron threads, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 pinch salt and bring just to the boil over a medium heat.

    6 min
  2. Step 2: Stir in 4 oz pudding rice, turn the heat to the lowest setting and cook uncovered for 45–50 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes and scraping the bottom, until the rice is very soft and the porridge thick and creamy.

    50 min
  3. Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp sugar and take off the heat. It thickens further as it cools.

  4. Step 4: Serve warm or cold in bowls, each sprinkled with a tablespoon of 4 tbsp soft brown sugar.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
340 kcal
Protein
10 g
Carbs
58 g
Fat
8 g
Fibre
0 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does saffron rijstpap take?
About 60 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of whole milk?
Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
What can I use instead of pudding rice?
Any long-grain rice, same amount.

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