Warm Chai Spiced Rice (Printable)
Aromatic chai spices elevate creamy rice, creating a warming and comforting dish for cool evenings.
# What you'll need:
→ Rice Pudding Base
01 - 3/4 cup short-grain or arborio rice
02 - 4 cups whole milk or unsweetened almond milk
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Chai Spice Blend
05 - 1 cinnamon stick
06 - 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
07 - 4 whole cloves
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Finishing Touch
12 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or coconut oil
13 - Optional: 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds or pistachios
14 - Optional: 2 tablespoons golden raisins
# Directions:
01 - Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
02 - Combine milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, ground ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium saucepan. Heat gently over medium heat until just simmering.
03 - Stir in the rice. Reduce heat to low and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 30 to 35 minutes until rice is tender and mixture is creamy.
04 - Remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and cloves. Stir in vanilla extract and butter until melted and fully incorporated.
05 - Stir in golden raisins if desired. Spoon the pudding into serving bowls and garnish with toasted nuts if preferred. Serve warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It tastes like a warm hug tastes if a hug could be chai-spiced and creamy.
- Forty-five minutes from ingredient to bowl, no fancy equipment or fussy techniques required.
- Works beautifully for dairy-free diets without sacrificing any of the comfort factor.
02 -
- Don't skip rinsing the rice—it's the difference between pudding and porridge, and it's an easy step that changes everything.
- Stirring frequently during cooking isn't busywork; it keeps the bottom from catching and distributes heat evenly so the rice cooks gently all over.
- Those whole spices infuse flavor better than ground spices alone, but you have to remove them before serving or risk an unexpected bite of clove.
03 -
- Crush cardamom pods by laying them on a cutting board and pressing them gently with the side of a knife—they'll split open and release their fragrant seeds.
- If you forget to remove the whole spices and accidentally bite into a clove, it won't ruin anything, but your mouth will remember it, so fish them out while the pudding is still warm and easier to work with.