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The 2010 March Daring Cooks challenge was hosted by Eleanor of MelbournefoodGeek and Jess of Jessthebaker. They chose to challenge Daring Cooks to make risotto. The various components of their challenge recipe are based on input from the Australian Masterchef cookbook and the cookbook Moorish by Greg Malouf.
In January I made an amazingly delicious Sweet Potato Risotto From Real Simple that I had seen posted on several blogs. I added some diced grilled chicken and it was a fabulous one pot meal that I never got around to posting and really should make again.
Since I’d recently made a savory risotto and have made homemade stock many times, I decided it would be fun to make a sweet risotto. I found many delicious sweet risotto recipes on line, but I knew my family would love the Cherry Risotto posted on Cooks Almost Anything.
My adapted recipe is posted below. I didn’t add the cherry juice to the risotto as it was cooking, so that it would highlight the vanilla bean seeds and the contrasting white and red colors. I also incorporated tips and instructions from GoLo Kitchen’s Rice Pudding–Risotto Style.
This was a scrumptious rice pudding. I’d never had rice pudding with any fruit other than raisins and it added a whole new dimension to the dessert. I would like to try using the arborio rice in our family favorite rice pudding recipe, Lamb’s Famous Rice Pudding, to see if it would increase the creaminess without all the stirring. But if you love cherries, definitely give this one a try!
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Rice Pudding with Poached Cherries
Ingredients
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 4 cups milk add more or less as needed
- 1 cup cream
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
To make poached cherries
- 12 oz. bag frozen cherries pitted
- ¼ cup caster sugar
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Place the milk, cream, sugar and vanilla bean paste into a saucepan and bring gently to boiling point.
- In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Pour in rice and stir until all grains have been coated with butter. Cook rice for a few minutes until the rice is glossy and a bit translucent.
- Add a half cup of the hot milk mixture. This should absorb fairly quickly and as soon as the majority of the milk has been absorbed, add another half cup. Keep stirring and when this has absorbed, add another half cup. Continue this process of adding milk and stirring until rice is tender.
- (You want your risotto to be smooth and creamy. The rice will absorb more liquid as it cools, so continue to add milk until the rice is tender but all the milk is not absorbed.)
- Serve hot with a spoonful of poached cherry juice and poached cherries on top.
For the poached cherries
- In a saucepan add the caster sugar and water and over a gentle heat stir until the sugar has just melted. Add the cherries, stir to coat and let this simmer until the cherries have coloured the syrup. Cool before using.
Michelle
We love Rice Pudding and it's one of my fall back recipes when we're having company. I've not thought to use cherries…great idea!
Megan
I could eat a bowl of that right now for breakfast! Looks like a perfect breakfast to me!
Maria
I've never made rice pudding. I better give it a shot, looks delicious!
vickys
Will I be strange if I confess I don't fancy rice pudding coz it gets quite…dense after awhile? I think you've just fixed the problem with the lovely cherries. That's bound to break the flavour up! MMM.Looks like a good breakfast…
Mimi
Barbara
What a nice twist on the challenge. Your risotto looks creamy and delicious. I'm thinking a nice spoonful of lemon curd on top would also be a fantastic treat.
Mimi
Lo & Go
Wow! Thanks for the shout out, Barbara! The cherries look delicious! I'll have to try this variation!
SashaInTheKitchen
Your rice pudding looks amazing. I love rice pudding and I love yours even more with those cherries.
Chow and Chatter
wow this is so creative love it
bake in paris
This is absolutely creamy and luscious. A perfect choice for dessert in any season. A great twist of the challenge!!
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
Lori
I really wanted to do a sweet one. THis sounds absolutely delicious Barbara.
Chalit
Thats taking rice pudding to a new level! Those look amazing. http://www.militarymovesyou.com/
Juliana
Barbara, what an awesome rice pudding…looks fabulous with poached cherries 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny
It looks so beautiful and delicious…yum!
teresa
i would really have never thought to make risotto sweet, but this makes so much sense. what a creamy and delicious dessert!
Kim
Your rice pudding looks incredibly creamy and delicious Barbara! You really went outside the box on this one and I love it:D Very creative.
Sue Sparks
Love the versatility of sweet and savory for the risotto! Looks so creamy and delicious both ways!
Holly
This some creamy looking risotto! I have never made it but would love to try the savory side I think:) The Peppered Pantry~
Lisa Michelle
Humina, humina, humina…I am typeless staring at that creamy risotto rice pudding. I love the addition of cream and will probably incorporate that into my next dessert risotto. Wait, I'll just use your recipe. It looks beautiful and delicious, Barb!
Pink Little Cake
Rice pudding is one of my favorites desserts. Everything looks really good.
Amanda
oh Barbara, this looks marvelous!