Turkish Muhallebi

This traditional Middle Eastern rice pudding flavoured with rose, pistachio, mastic and vanilla, is a delicious and simple dessert. 

INGREDIENTS: (serves 4-6 people as a dessert)

• 3/4 cup of rice flour 
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbs of sugar 
• 1/4 tsp mastic
• 1 L whole milk
• 1 tbs rose water 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract or half of a vanilla bean
• cinnamon
• dried roses 
• ground pistachios 

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a bowl, combine the rice flour with 1/2 cup of sugar and set aside.
2. In a mortar, grind the mastic with 1 tbs of sugar until it's finely crushed.
3. Add the mastic sugar with the rice mixture.
4. In a sauce pan on medium heat, add the rice mixture and gradually add the milk to avoid lumps.
5. Cook the pudding for 3 minutes and when it starts to thicken, add your rose water and vanilla extract. 
6. Cook for another few minutes until nice and thick and the rice is cooked. 
7. Enjoy either warm or cool with cinnamon, ground pistachios and dried rose petals.