Best Danish Christmas Rice Porridge Recipes

RICE PORRIDGE (RISENGRøD IN DANISH, RISGRYNSGRöT IN

Steps:

• Rinse rice well and drain. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water, butter, and salt to a rapid boil over high heat. Pour in rice, stirring constantly to prevent sticking.
• Reduce heat to low, stirring rice until boiling is reduced to a simmer. Cover pot and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until rice has absorbed most of the water.
• Add milk to rice, stirring to incorporate. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, then immediately reduce heat to low.
• Once boiling has reduced to a simmer, cover pot and allow to cook, without stirring, for 45 minutes.
• Serve with cinnamon-sugar and butter to taste
• (Christmas Eve Reminder: Don't forget to stir a single blanched almond into the rice porridge before serving, particularly if there are family members you'd like to see married off. If there are Nisse about and livestock at stake, it's also a good idea to top the porridge with a big slice of butter ... or face the consequences!).

DANISH RICE PUDDING W/RASPBERRY SAUCE (RIS A LA MANDE)

Steps:

• Bring milk to a boil slowly in a large pot.
• Add rice, keep simmering until rice is tender, stir every 3 min or so to prevent rice and/or milk burning at the bottom. This step takes approx 45 minute While the rice is simmering you can make the raspberry sauce and chop the almonds.
• When rice is firm remove from heat and let cool. When cool add vanilla sugar, sugar and almonds.
• Fold in whipped cream.
• Chill and serve with warm raspberry sauce.
• SAUCE:.
• In medium sauce pan place frozen raspberries and 2 tbsp of water, heat until thawed, add sugar and stir. Let simmer for approx 3-5 minute.
• Mix cornstarch with water and add to the sauce to thicken. This step can be omitted if you want a more natural and thinner sauce.
• TIP- you can also serve this dish with a strawberry sauce or a mix of raspberry and strawberry. I prefer the raspberry sauce as it adds a bit of tartness to an otherwise sweet dish. Traditionally the dish is served with a cherry sauce, our family never did though instead preferring the raspberry or strawberry sauce.

DANISH CHRISTMAS RICE PUDDING WITH ALMONDS AND WARM CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Split half of the vanilla pod length ways, scrape out the seeds.
• Place the milk and vanilla in a heavy-bottomed pan. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat. Add the rice gradually, stirring constantly.
• Increase the heat and bring to a boil again.
• When the milk boils, reduce the heat, cover and simmer on a very low heat for about 1 hour or until the rice is cooked. Stir from time to time, making sure that the rice doesn't stick too much to the bottom.
• Leave to cool completely.
• Whip the cream together with sugar. Fold the whipped cream and almonds into the rice. You can add more sugar or more almonds if you wish. Serve with warm cherry sauce.
• Now make the cherry sauce. Place the cherries in a medium saucepan. Add sugar and 1 1/2 cups water. Add the vanilla pod. Simmer until the cherries are tender.
• Combine the potato starch with 2 tablespoons cold water.
• Bring the cherries to a boil. Remove the vanilla pod from the pot. Reduce the heat, and , stirring constantly, slowly pour the water with the starch. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
• Stir in the lemon juice and serve warm over the rice pudding. Garnish with a fresh mint leaf, if desired.
• * I used frozen sour cherries in this recipe, but regular sweet cherries should work as well.