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"I think everyone will be really happy," says Adam Liaw in The Cook Up as he puts the finishing touches on his riz bi haleeb - a Middle Eastern rice pudding flavoured with vanilla and cinnamon, and served with strawberries in arak syrup.
It's a phrase that could be equally applied to all of the recipes below: a collection of our favourite Middle Eastern-influenced rice puddings, some vibrant, some subtle but all bringing with them a lovely measure of 'make-everyone-happy'. Grab a spoon and dig in.
Strawberries in an arak syrup (or use any other anise-flavoured spirit) add vibrant colour to Shane Delia's thick, creamy milk and rice pudding.
Riz bi haleeb (rice pudding) Source: A Middle East Feast
We love an equally good breakfast served when just made, or the next day, and this recipe is all that. Rice flavoured with cinnamon, vanilla and honey (or maple syrup for a vegan version) is topped with pistachios, pomegranate seeds and pomegranate molasses.
Creamy Middle Eastern rice bowl Source: Chris Middleton
A tart-sweet pomegranate syrup drizzled over the top is the perfect partner for a milky rice pudding flavoured with cinnamon, vanilla and rosewater.
Cinnamon and rosewater rice pudding Source: Chris Chen
Jasmin Rose Ibrahim's recipe is made with ground rice, creating a silky, rich dessert, flavoured with nutmeg, cinnamon, caraway, anise and fresh ginger. You can eat it warm, or make ahead and serve chilled.
Spiced rice pudding Source: One World Kitchen
Yotam Ottolenghi's Turkish recipe for rice pudding is pretty and full of flavour, and although it calls for fresh cherries, you could easily serve the pudding with a compote of whatever fruit is in season.
Yotam Ottolenghi's Turkish pudding Source: Yotam Ottolenghi's Mediterranean Feast
When persimmons are in season, they make a wonderful combination with rice pudding and walnuts. And when they aren't? This pudding - made even richer with a little condensed milk stirred in just before serving! - is lovely with any fruit, nuts or sweetener you like to add.
Persimmon and walnut rice pudding Source: Lean Timms
Megli is a traditional Lebanese dessert often cooked to celebrate the birth of a baby, or at Christmas. The broken rice used in this recipe gives the pudding a porridge-like texture.
Spiced rice pudding (meghli) Source: Feast / John Laurie
