ORANGE COCONUT RICE PUDDING WITH HOMEMADE VANILLA SUGAR

Orange Coconut Rice Pudding with Homemade Vanilla Sugar image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Categories dessert

Time 45m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup jasmine rice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Two 15-ounce cans coconut milk (not lite)
5 tablespoons Vanilla Sugar, recipe follows
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 cups granulated sugar
2 vanilla bean pods

Steps:

Add the rice, salt, 1 can of coconut milk and 1 1/2 cups water to a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and cook until almost all of the liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, add the Vanilla Sugar, orange zest and remaining can of coconut milk to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring regularly, until the sugar has dissolved, about 3 minutes. Once the mixture is at a simmer, turn off the heat.
After the rice has cooked for 18 minutes, add the coconut milk-orange zest mixture to the rice and continue to cook over low until the rice is very tender and creamy, an additional 15 minutes.
Add the sugar to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Slice open the vanilla bean pods and use the back of a knife to scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds to the food processor with the sugar and blend for about a minute, until the vanilla beans are evenly distributed. Pour the vanilla sugar into an airtight container and add 1 of the scraped vanilla bean pods.