Rice pudding was Kaia’s first favorite food. I used to cook it more when my girls were teething☺ I consider it more of a baby food than a dessert, because it reminds me of them sitting in their high chair enjoying eating Riz bi Haleeb.

It is an easy and simple recipe to prepare for the whole family. Every country around the world has its own version of rice pudding. I find the Lebanese recipe the best I’ve ever tasted. Perhaps, because of the use of the mastic gum that gives it a little of a light chewy feel and the aromatic fragrance of the orange blossom water.

Hope you and your kids enjoy this great old-fashioned dessert!

Ingredients

• 3 cups full fat milk
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup short grain white rice
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 tsp mastic powder, pound
• 1tbsp orange blossom water
• Unsalted whole pistachios, to decorate
• Unsalted ground pistachios, to decorate
• Pine nuts, to decorate

Preparation

1. Pour milk in a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan, add sugar and bring to a boil.
2. Add the rice and water. Stir well.
3. Cook over medium heat for about 30mn or until the mixture is creamy, stirring constantly, making sure the rice doesn’t stick at the bottom of the pan.
4. Add the mastic powder and the orange blossom water and cook for another 15mn until thickened.
5. Remove from heat. Spoon the rice evenly among serving bowls.
6. Decorate with pistachios and pine nuts. Served chilled.