This combination of rice pudding and chestnuts will put a huge smile on your face.
Some say that rice pudding is a dish for children. In northern Italy, we could not disagree more. We believe that rice pudding doesn’t only warm our tummies, but also our hearts. And especially with some chestnuts! The perfect soul food for cold days.
Pure food
Until the Middle Ages, rice was imported from Catalonia to Italy. A luxurious food destined for the rich. But during the Renaissance, the first landowners began to cultivate the noble grain in the Po Valley. This led to rice quickly becoming part of the daily food of the local population. The church encouraged the consumption of rice due to the belief that white food could purify both the soul and the body. And for this reason, the combination of rice and milk was especially popular.
The rich harvest
Every year between May and the end of June, women from all over Italy set out for the Po Valley to harvest rice. Harvesting the stalks in the wet fields was hard and monotonous work that began in the early morning hours. It is said that the singing of the working women was heard even from great distances. Many fish, ducks, geese and other animals romped around in the canals and water areas which were fed by the Po. Just like the rice, they also found their way onto the plates of the common people.
Rice pudding is not rice pudding
As is the case with many simple dishes, everybody likes “their” rice pudding differently. In Valtellina in northern Lombardy, you will discover many hearty and sweet varieties. In this region, the rice is cooked in a half milk/half water mixture to create a thick soup, which is then served with small flour dumplings. Others love their rice pudding with fried onions and some even with bacon. On 23rd December, rice pudding is prepared with lard and cheese. Chestnuts in rice pudding are also typical for this region. All these dishes were popular there before rice came along: cooked with an old type of rye.
Rice pudding with chestnuts
Ingredients
- 170 ml milk
- 170 ml sweet cream whipped cream
- 150 g rice best if risotto rice
- 100 g chestnuts
- 30 g butter cooked
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
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Bring the milk, the whipped cream with the chestnuts and the pinch of salt to the boil. Stir in the rice and simmer gently for 10 minutes, or until soft. Stir from time to time. Take the pan off the heat and add the butter to the rice pudding.
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You want your rice to have a creamy consistency – it should not be too dry. Don’t worry if the chestnuts break down a little while cooking, as this is what we want. Allow your rice pudding to stand for a while and then enjoy it either hot or cold. Add cinnamon, vanilla, sugar or honey to create an even sweeter taste.
Recipe Notes
Soak dried chestnuts in milk overnight. If you can’t or don’t want to consume dairy products, you can also use oat or rice milk.
Buon appetito!
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