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Published: Jun 19, 2021. Modified: Mar 10, 2024 by Wafa Shami. This post may contain affiliate links.

The Best Rice Pudding with Arabic Mastic and Rosewater

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Rice pudding رز بالحليب is a very common dessert the Mastic and Rosewater in this Palestinian version is a light and refreshing dessert with a distinctive flavor. You will find both kids and adults will love, especially on hot summer days. Another refreshing desert you may enjoy on a hot summer day is Yogurt with Strawberries and Nuts.

Rice Pudding

While things still look gloomy in Gaza, and Sheikh Jarrah, it's been hard to pretend that things are normal or even joyful. Although living thousands of miles away images of hardships in my home country are still close and very real. Palestinians have been through many hardships over the last 73 years. Insisting and persisting to exist has become part of Palestinians daily motto. Culture and food play a big part in Palestinians daily life. It is very important for Palestinians to keep on doing what they do.

Rice Pudding

I made this recipe several weeks ago and wanted to share it on Ascension Day or Ascension Thursday خميس الصعود. Ascension Day Occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. A Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven. (timeanddate.com)

A tradition in our house, every year my mother would make rice pudding on Ascension Day. A white dish that represents heaven and the holiness of this holiday.

Rice Pudding

Rice pudding is a very common dessert, although the basic ingredients are the same, flavors introduced by other cultures are completely different from the Palestinian versions. . Rice Pudding has actually been around for centuries, possibly originating in China, which has an ancient rice culture. This has been disputed by some food historians, arguing that rice pudding likely originated in India, which has an ancient rice culture as well as an ancient sugar culture.

Rice Pudding
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Rice Pudding

The Best Rice Pudding with Arabic Mastic and Rosewater

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Wafa Shami
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 5 Servings 1x
  • Category: Desert
  • Method: Boiling
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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Description

Rice pudding رز بالحليب is a very common dessert the Mastic and Rosewater in this Palestinian version is a light and refreshing dessert with a distinctive flavor. You will find both kids and adults will love, especially on hot summer days.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ up rice (preferably Egyptian rice) Cal rose or Jasmine
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoon corn starch
  • ½-1 teaspoon Arabic Mastic grinded
  • 1 teaspoon rosewater
  • 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
  • Cinnamon powder, pistachios, or other nuts for decorations (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soak rice for 10 minutes (optional) or rinse rice under cold water to remove starch.
  2. Place rice in a pot and cover with 1 cup of water.
  3. once it starts boiling, cover then turn it to low.
  4. Let simmer for 15 minutes until rice is fully cooked.
  5. Pour 2.5 cups of milk over the rice and keep stirring over medium heat.
  6. ½ cup milk left mix with cornstarch then pour over the rice-milk mixtures.
  7. Grind mastic with 1 teaspoon of sugar in a hand grinder
  8. Add sugar and mastic, continue stirring on medium heat for another 15 minutes until it starts thickening and bubbling.
  9. Turn heat off and mix in the rose and orange blossom water.
  10. Pour the mixture into small bowls let it cool off for about ½ hour
  11. Place in the fridge. It can last up to a week in the fridge.

Notes

Served chilled, sprinkle some nuts on top.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David says

    February 18, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    Love this rice pudding dish

    Reply
  2. Sal says

    February 18, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    What a wonderful dish/desert

    Reply
  3. Stacy says

    May 22, 2024 at 10:02 am

    I am excited to try your recipes for a dinner for Palestinian activists. Thank you!

    Can I make this without the gum Arabic?

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      May 22, 2024 at 10:43 am

      Hi Stacy,

      Glad to hear that, I hope they'll enjoy it. Yes of course, the Arabic gum just adds an extra flavor.

      Reply
  4. mj says

    August 09, 2024 at 10:20 pm

    mine came out so bitter. what did i do wrong?

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      August 10, 2024 at 3:51 pm

      Hello Mariam, I'm sorry to hear the pudding turned out bitter. It could be one of two things, either extra Arabic mastic or orange blossom water. If you try it again reduce the amount of both. I hope this helps.

      Reply

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Marhabah and welcome to my site. I’m Wafa founder, creator, and food photographer behind Palestine in a Dish. Here you’ll find authentic-traditional Palestinian recipes and more modern which are inspired by my Palestinian kitchen flavors. My blog is all about my mother's authentic recipes that I grew up eating.

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Last Updated on March 10, 2024 by Wafa Shami