Name: Egyptian-Style Rice Pudding
Yield: Makes 4 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup arborio rice; 3 cups cold milk; 1 1/2 cups sugar; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1 tablespoon rosewater (available at specialty foods shops); 1 cup chopped almonds; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Rice pudding is a dish that many cultures share — for some, it conjures up the image of English nursery desserts, for others, an aromatic Chinese recipe. It is made all over the world with many varieties of rice. In Egypt, it's another legacy of the rice-loving Persians. The sweet, creamy comfort food is traditionally made with the short-grained "amber" rice favored by Egyptians, but arborio is very similar and makes a good substitute.

Editor's note: This recipe is adapted from ‘My Egyptian Grandmother's Kitchen’ by Magda el-Mehdawy. Mehdawy also shared some helpful tips exclusively with Epicurious, which we've added at the bottom of the page.

Magda el-Mehdawy shares her tips with Epicurious:

Egyptian rice is a rounded-grain type very similar to Italy's arborio, with a starchy coating that melts into creaminess, an attribute that is essential for this dish. Be sure to use whole milk, not skim.

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