Risalamande
Danish Christmas Rice Pudding
Risalamande is a beloved Danish Christmas dessert, a creamy and elegant rice pudding enriched with vanilla, almonds, and whipped cream. It's traditionally served with a warm cherry sauce and features a fun game of finding a hidden whole almond.
🧂 Ingredients
- 180 g Short-grained white rice (pudding rice)
- 300 ml Water
- 1 l Whole milk
- 1 pod Vanilla pod(seeds scraped)
- 3 tbsp Sugar
- 1 pinch Salt
- 500 ml Heavy cream
- 100 g Almonds(blanched, skinned, and chopped (reserve one whole almond))
- Cherry sauce(for serving)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a saucepan, combine the water and rice. Bring to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the milk, vanilla pod (with scraped seeds), sugar, and salt. Stir well.
- 2
Bring the mixture back to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking and burning. The porridge should have a risotto-like consistency.
- 3
Remove the vanilla pod. Let the rice porridge cool completely. For best results, chill it in the refrigerator.
- 4
While the porridge cools, whip the heavy cream in a separate bowl until soft peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip.
- 5
Once the rice porridge is cold, gently fold in the chopped almonds and the whipped cream. Start with about one-third of the whipped cream to loosen the porridge, then gently fold in the rest.
- 6
Spoon the Risalamande into serving bowls. Hide one whole almond in one of the portions. Serve cold, topped with warm cherry sauce.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using cold rice porridge is crucial to prevent the whipped cream from melting.
- ✓Ensure the almonds are blanched and skinned for a smoother texture.
- ✓The game of finding the hidden almond is a fun tradition, especially for children.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a pinch of cardamom to the rice porridge for an extra layer of flavor.
- Serve with a homemade cherry sauce for a more authentic taste.