Gluten-free creamy rice pudding with warm apple compote

Gluten-free creamy rice pudding with warm apple compote: a mild comfort recipe with pudding rice, milk, sweet apples, honey and Ceylon cinnamon.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 5 min
• Cooking time: 35 min
• Total time: 40 min
• Calories: 340 kcal per serving
• Protein: 9 g
• Fat: 4 g
• Carbs: 62 g

Ingredients

• 125g pudding rice (short-grain rice)
• 500ml semi-skimmed milk
• 2 sweet apples (e.g. Gala or Braeburn)
• 1 splash of water
• 1 tbsp runny honey
• 1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon
• 1 pinch of salt

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · chopping board · knife · wooden spoon

1. Put the pudding rice in a pan with the milk and a pinch of salt and heat, stirring, until the milk comes briefly to the boil.
2. Turn the heat down low and let the pudding rice swell gently. Stir now and then so it stays creamy and doesn't catch on the bottom of the pan.
3. Meanwhile, wash and core the apples and cut them into small dice. Put them in a second pan with the honey, Ceylon cinnamon and a little water.
4. Let the apple compote simmer gently until the apple pieces are soft but still have a little bite. Stir briefly if needed so the honey and cinnamon are well distributed.
5. Check the rice pudding: it should be soft, creamy and slightly runny. If necessary, leave it to stand a little longer.
6. To serve, spoon the creamy rice pudding into bowls and top with the warm apple compote.

Good to know

A bowl like this has something wonderfully comforting about it. Warm, soft and uncomplicated – just right when you want something mild and cosy.

Swaps

Semi-skimmed milk → whole milk or unsweetened organic coconut milk (more satisfying, creamier) 1 tbsp runny honey → apple purée made from apples only (less free sugar, fruity sweetness) 125g pudding rice (short-grain rice) → millet (more minerals, gluten-free) 1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon → vanilla + a little lemon zest (milder flavour, a change of aroma)

Allergens

The recipe contains milk as an allergen; usually suitable for children, but no honey in the first year of life, and during pregnancy the ingredients are generally unproblematic in normal kitchen amounts.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of fibre is in the apple compote?

Apples mainly contain pectin, a soluble fibre. Some of it sits in the skin, so it's worth using well-washed apples with the skin on if you like the texture.

Is Ceylon cinnamon really the better choice?

For many people, yes, because Ceylon cinnamon contains much less coumarin than cassia cinnamon. It also often tastes a little finer and milder.

Which nutrients does milk provide in this recipe?

Milk mainly brings calcium, vitamin B2 and protein. Depending on the type, it also contains vitamin B12 and small amounts of fat.

How do cooked apples differ from raw ones?

Cooked apples are softer and taste milder because their structure changes as they cook. Whether you prefer them raw or cooked is up to you.

Does honey have nutritional advantages over sugar?

Besides sugar, honey contains small amounts of other natural substances, such as trace elements and plant compounds. These amounts are modest, though, so honey is still a sweetener first and foremost.