COCONUT VANILLA BEAN RICE PUDDING

coconut vanilla bean rice pudding brulee
Yes.  This picture is mine.  All mine!  See what the hubbub is about.

This recipe is creamy and deliciously rich. If you love the flavour of coconut, this rice pudding is for you. It incorporates a velvety custard into coconut milk-infused jasmine rice and becomes a decadent dessert suitable for entertaining. My friend N is a fan of coconut and has requested this recipe. I've adapted it from Kate Zuckerman's A Sweet Life. In my rendition, I use a vanilla pod whereas she uses cardamom. For entertaining, I have bruleed the tops in individual dishes and they were fantastic.
One note: if you notice your custard curdling and it looks grainy, you can rescue it by whisking it vigorously using a wire whisk while it is still hot. Or, you can use a blender food processor or stick blender to puree the curdled custard for a minute or two.

Enjoy!

COCONUT VANILLA BEAN RICE PUDDING
adapted from Kate Zuckerman's A Sweet Life(yields 6 cups, serves 8 to 12)

RICE
1/2 cup plus 2 T jasmine rice or basmati rice
1/4 cup sugar
1 (13 1/2-fluid ounce) can coconut milk
1 cup whole milk
1/4 t salt

CUSTARD
1 vanilla bean (or 1 T vanilla extract)
1/2 cup plus 2 T sugar
1 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
5 egg yolks
1 egg

special tools: fine-mesh strainer

Cook the rice. coconut rice, prepared by baking in a covered pot in the oven

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the rice in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Place the rice in a heavy-bottomed medium-sized saucepan with 2 cups cold water. Bring the rice to a boil and immediately remove the pan from the heat.


• Strain the rice and discard the starchy water. Place the blanched rice back in the pan and add the sugar, coconut milk, milk, and salt.


• Bring to a boil, remove from the heat, and cover the pan with aluminum foil or the lid. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the rice expands, and absorbs all the liquids, 30 minutes. (If the pan is not oven-proof, transfer the rice and liquid to a metal or glass baking dish and cover with aluminum foil). If there is still runny milk in the pan, continue to bake, covered, for another 5 to 10 minutes. When the rice is done, remove if from the oven, leave it covered, and set it aside.

Make the custard.
the cream and vanilla bean mixture, prior to cooking and thickening

• While the rice is baking, make the custard. Split the vanilla bean, scrape out the seeds with a knife and combine the empty pod along with the seeds in a heavy saucepan with 1/2 cup sugar, milk and cream. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat and allow the vanilla to steep for 10 minutes.

• In a mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks, egg and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and briskly whisk for 1 minute. Using a ladle, slowly whisk some of the hot cream into the egg mixture to warm it. Gradually pour the warmed egg mixture into the hot cream, whisking the cream constantly as you pour.


• Cook the custard over medium heat, stirring continuously and scraping the bottom with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and remove the empty vanilla pod.

Combine the custard and the rice

the rice pudding is coconut-custardy-creamy
• Scoop the rice into a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot custard over the rice and, using a whisk, slowly whisk until all of the rice granules are dispersed evenly and the mixture is thoroughly combined. Allow the rice pudding to cool completely.

Serving suggestions

• Portion into oven-proof individual serving gratin or creme brulee dishes.
• Sprinkle with granulated sugar and brulee (under a broiler or with a torch).

Storage
Will keep refrigerated, for 3 days