Rice pudding is a dish that many cultures share — for some, it conjures up the image of English nursery desserts, for others, an aromatic Chinese recipe. It is made all over the world with many varieties of rice. In Egypt, it's another legacy of the rice-loving Persians. The sweet, creamy comfort food is traditionally made with the short-grained "amber" rice favored by Egyptians, but arborio is very similar and makes a good substitute.
Editor's note: This recipe is adapted from ‘My Egyptian Grandmother's Kitchen’ by Magda el-Mehdawy. Mehdawy also shared some helpful tips exclusively with Epicurious, which we've added at the bottom of the page.
Egyptian rice is a rounded-grain type very similar to Italy's arborio, with a starchy coating that melts into creaminess, an attribute that is essential for this dish. Be sure to use whole milk, not skim.
