Traditional Danish Christmas Rice Pudding Recipes

RISALAMANDE (DANISH RICE PUDDING)

Steps:

• 1. Bring milk to a boil slowly in a large pot.
• 2. Add rice, keep simmering until rice is tender, stirring every 3-4 minutes to prevent rice or milk from burning at the bottom. This takes 45 minutes to an hour.
• 3. When rice is firm, remove from the heat and let cool. All the milk should be absorbed into the rice when it is done. When cool, add the sugar, vanilla and almonds, and mix in.
• 4. Fold in whipped cream. Chill and serve with raspberry sauce.
• 5. While the rice is simmering, you can make the raspberry sauce. In a medium saucepan place the frozen raspberries and water, heat until thawed, add 1/2 cup of the sugar and stir. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes.
• 6. Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup of sugar and add to the sauce to thicken. This step can be omitted if you want a more natural and thinner sauce.
• 7. TIP: You can also serve with a strawberry sauce or a cherry sauce. My new Danish friend made it with the raspberry sauce, but I have read that a cherry sauce is more traditional. I haven't tried that, but I am going to next time I make it. I have also thought about doing a strawberry/raspberry mix for the sauce.

RISALAMANDE (DANISH ALMOND RICE PUDDING WITH CHERRY SAUCE)

Steps:

• Bring the rice, salt, lemon zest, sugar and water to a boil in a medium-sized stock pot. Boil for 3 minutes, add the milk and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, increasing the frequency during the last 10 minutes to prevent scorching. Stir in the chopped blanched almonds.
• Let the rice cool and then chill for several hours or overnight.
• Beat the cream until it starts to thicken. Add the sugar, vanilla bean paste and almond extract and beat until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-beat. Stir the cream mixture into the rice pudding.(Note: The rice will may be very stiff. Stir it to loosen it up and then stir it more after the cream has been added to break up any clumps.)
• Serve the Risalamande at room temperature with the warm cherry sauce.

DANISH CHRISTMAS RICE PUDDING WITH ALMONDS AND WARM CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Split half of the vanilla pod length ways, scrape out the seeds.
• Place the milk and vanilla in a heavy-bottomed pan. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat. Add the rice gradually, stirring constantly.
• Increase the heat and bring to a boil again.
• When the milk boils, reduce the heat, cover and simmer on a very low heat for about 1 hour or until the rice is cooked. Stir from time to time, making sure that the rice doesn't stick too much to the bottom.
• Leave to cool completely.
• Whip the cream together with sugar. Fold the whipped cream and almonds into the rice. You can add more sugar or more almonds if you wish. Serve with warm cherry sauce.
• Now make the cherry sauce. Place the cherries in a medium saucepan. Add sugar and 1 1/2 cups water. Add the vanilla pod. Simmer until the cherries are tender.
• Combine the potato starch with 2 tablespoons cold water.
• Bring the cherries to a boil. Remove the vanilla pod from the pot. Reduce the heat, and , stirring constantly, slowly pour the water with the starch. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
• Stir in the lemon juice and serve warm over the rice pudding. Garnish with a fresh mint leaf, if desired.
• * I used frozen sour cherries in this recipe, but regular sweet cherries should work as well.

DANISH RICE PUDDING (RISENGROD)

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, bring the milk, rice and salt to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring frequently. , Spoon pudding into individual dishes. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the tops. Dot with butter. Serve immediately.

DANISH RICE PUDDING WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil, and then add rice. Reduce heat to simmer, and continue cooking for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature.
• In a small saucepan, mix the sherry and gelatin; stir over low heat until the gelatin is dissolved. Stir in the sugar until completely dissolved, and then stir in vanilla. Stir into the rice with the chopped almonds. Refrigerate.
• Pour cream into a bowl, and whip until light and fluffy soft peaks appear. Fold into chilled rice pudding. Serve in small bowls, topped with frozen raspberries.

DANISH RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan bring the milk and rice to a boil slowly on medium heat.
• Simmer until rice is cooked through and not crunchy.
• Add vanilla and sugar.
• Let cool.
• While cooling, whip the cartons of whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
• When rice has cooled add the whipped cream.
• At this time it is customary in our house to add a piece of an almond as well.
• Garnish with tangerine sections, shredded chocolate or chocolate curls.

CHRISTMAS RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the rice and water. Simmer for 10 minutes; add milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 60-70 minutes or until rice is tender. Add sugar, salt and butter; mix well. Spoon into small bowls or dessert dishes. Garnish with almonds and sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.