Pudding rice

A very English concept, these fat, round, shiny grains look almost tapiocalike. Is that how they fit so perfectly into our pudding shelves and psyche? They are basically short-grain white rice grains packaged as ‘pudding rice’. They are not a specific type of grain. They are easy to spot – winking, glossy, almost round, pearls. Outside of England, the name ‘pudding rice’ does not really exist.

I think it sweet, this grand title of ‘pudding rice’ given to the humble short-grain in Britain. They are right to be proud of what this stumpy little darling can do in sugar and milk. I have used it in many of my dessert rice dishes unless I felt that the recipe or provenance demanded something altogether different.