APRICOT RICE PUDDING POPS

Apricot Rice Pudding Pops image

Provided by Michael Laiskonis

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons canned unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 lemongrass stalk, tough outer layer removed, thinly sliced
1 tablespoons minced peeled ginger
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
3 tablespoons short-grain rice (such as arborio)
1/4 cup 1/4" pieces dried apricots
1/4 cup sugar
Ingredient info: Unsweetened coconut milk is available at many supermarkets. Lemongrass can be found at Asian markets and some supermarkets.
Special Equipment
8 ice-pop molds; 8 ice-pop sticks

Steps:

Combine milk, coconut milk, cream, lemongrass, ginger, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to a boil; remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, place rice and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl; let stand for 10 minutes (to soften and release some starch). Drain.
Strain coconut-milk mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium saucepan. Add rice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer (do not stir or rice will become too starchy) until rice is very tender, 30-35 minutes. Let cool slightly.
Stir in apricots and sugar. Divide mixture among ice-pop molds. Freeze until beginning to set, 30-45 minutes. Insert a stick into each pop. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour longer. DO AHEAD: Pops can be made 2 weeks ahead. Keep frozen.