Chai-Spiced Rice Pudding

Sweet enough for dessert, and healthy enough for breakfast! Yes, “chai tea” is “tea tea”, just as “naan bread” is “bread bread”. But today, we’re going to be using the “tea tea” spices to make this already delicious and healthy dish more delicious and more healthy:

You will need

• 1 cup wholegrain rice (a medium-length grain is best for the optimal amount of starch to make this creamy but not sticky)
• 1½ cups milk (we recommend almond milk, but any milk will work)
• 1 cup full fat coconut milk
• 1 cup water
• 4 Medjool dates, soaked in hot water for 5 minutes, drained, and chopped
• 2 tbsp almond butter
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (omit if you prefer less sweetness)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 tsp ground sweet cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cardamom
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ ground cloves
• Optional garnish: berries (your preference what kind)

Method

(we suggest you read everything at least once before doing anything)

1) Add all of the ingredients except the berries into the cooking vessel* you’re going to use, and stir thoroughly.

*There are several options here and they will take different durations:

• Pressure cooker: 10 minutes at high pressure (we recommend, if available)
• Rice cooker: 25 minutes or thereabouts (we recommend only if the above or below aren’t viable options for you)
• Slow cooker: 3 hours or thereabouts, but you can leave it for 4 if you’re busy (we recommend if you want to “set it and forget it” and have the time; it’s very hard to mess this one up unless you go to extremes)

Options that we don’t recommend:

• Saucepan: highly variable and you’re going to have to watch and stir it (we don’t recommend this unless the other options aren’t available)
• Oven: highly variable and you’re going to have to check it frequently (we don’t recommend this unless the other options aren’t available)

2) Cook, using the method you selected from the list.

3) Get ready to serve. Depending on the method, they may be some extra liquid at the top; this can just be stirred into the rest and it will take on the same consistency.

4) Serve in bowls, with a berry garnish if desired:

Enjoy!

Want to learn more?

For those interested in some of the science of what we have going on today:

• Grains: Bread Of Life, Or Cereal Killer?
• Which Plant Milk?
• If You’re Not Taking Chia, You’re Missing Out
• Our Top 5 Spices: How Much Is Enough For Benefits?
• Sweet Cinnamon vs Regular Cinnamon – Which is Healthier?

Take care!