Turkish Rice Pudding – Sütlaç

You know that favorite dessert your grandma always made for you during every visit? Even if you hadn’t had dinner yet, she’d let you eat it anyway because she made it just for you? For my kids and my mother-in-law, that will undoubtedly be sütlaç, aka, rice pudding. It was also my husband’s favorite food as a child. 

And they’re not the only ones. We saw this dish in virtually every Turkish household we visited, enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

With just a handful of ingredients, you can get at least 6 servings with each batch. So before you get started, I’d grab at least six small bowls and lay them out on your counter.

Here’s what else you’ll need:

• 1 cup of rice (washed, drained)
• 3 cups of water
• ¼ tsp salt
• 4 cups of milk (or almond milk)
• 1 cup of sugar/stevia/honey – whatever you use to sweeten things
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp corn starch or arrowroot powder dissolved in 1-2 tablespoons of cold water

To start, place your water, salt and washed rice into a medium-sized pan and cook on high heat for 10 minutes. The rice will start to absorb the water, but not entirely.

At this point, you can add the milk, sugar and vanilla. Turn on your timer to 20 minutes. When the milk starts to bubble, turn the heat down to medium. 

You’ll want to stir occasionally, but you don’t have to stand directly next to it the whole time. However, as it gets closer to 15 minutes in, you’ll want to keep an eye on it and stir more frequently as it will start to thicken. There still needs to be some liquid, so if it looks like it’s getting pretty thick then take it off the heat. When there is 1-2 minutes left, add in the corn starch or arrowroot powder and continue to stir. 

After removing from the heat, immediately transfer into the small bowls you’ve already laid out. Let the rice pudding cool for at least 15 minutes where it will continue to thicken.

Before serving, you have the option to garnish with walnuts, cinnamon, or even let the kids add a few sprinkles (especially during the holidays)! This dish can be served warm or cold.

I hope you enjoy! Afiyet olsun.

Print Recipe

Turkish Rice Pudding - Sütlaç

Dessert – Mediterranean

By Janice Yucel – Serves: 6

Prep Time: 5 Minutes – Cooking Time: 30 Minutes – Total Time: 35 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice (washed, drained)
• 3 cups of water
• ¼ tsp salt
• 4 cups of milk
• 1 cup of sugar/stevia/honey - whatever you use to sweeten things
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp corn starch or arrowroot powder dissolved in 2 tablespoons of cold water
• 6 small bowls

Instructions

1

Place your water, salt and washed rice into a medium-sized pan and cook on high heat for 10 minutes. The rice will start to absorb the water, but not entirely.

2

Add the milk, sugar and vanilla. Turn on your timer to 20 minutes. When the milk starts to bubble, turn the heat down to medium. 

3

Stir occasionally. After 15 minutes, stir more often and watch closely. There still needs to be some liquid, so if it looks like it’s getting pretty thick then take it off the heat.

4

When there is 1-2 minutes left, add in the corn starch or arrowroot powder and continue to stir. 

5

After removing from the heat, immediately transfer into the small bowls you’ve already laid out.

6

Let the rice pudding cool for at least 15 minutes where it will continue to thicken.

7

Before serving, you have the option to garnish with walnuts.

8

This dish can be served warm or cold.