Winter spices are so aromatic, you can easily transform a cup of tea, porridge or simple fruit with yoghurt using a blend of spices. Cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and turmeric are a great base to start with. Rice pudding is the ultimate comfort food, once you’ve made you can customise it to be any of your favourite flavours. Click here for a simple recipe on how to Cook the Perfect Rice Pudding > Mahatma® Rice with suggestions on how to make chocolate and pumpkin spiced latter flavours. Yum!
Deena Kakaya’s Indian-spiced rice pudding
Deena Kakaya’s Indian spiced rice pudding uses creamy whole milk and coconut for a satisfying, rich winter dessert. She infuses the rice pudding with cardamom and rose water for an aromatic finish, and completes the dish with perfectly tender poached pears. She says,
“There’s something about the creamy and smooth nature of rice pudding that sits so well with juicy and plump fruit. For me, rice pudding conjures memories of celebrations; rice pudding with all its saffron, cardamom and rose water glory was affectionately made on special occasions such as a family get together, a religious holiday or as a treat for decent exam results. Rice pudding is consequently a happy dish for me and one that feels so bolstering to eat, hot and steaming against the cool air of the winter.” Find her delicious recipe at The Great British Chef’s site.
How to make Chai spice blend
Chai refers to the milky black tea flavoured with warm spices, you can make this blend yourself and keep in the kitchen larder. Each family’s recipe is different, but common spices to include are cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, star anise, and sometimes fennel, nutmeg, pepper and coriander. Chai tea is a fragrant, spicy tea that may help boost heart health, reduce blood sugar levels, aid digestion and help with weight loss. Although most of these health benefits are backed by science, it’s really healthy to get to know natural spices and herbs and use them often to flavour your food rather than lots of salt and sugar.