Toasted Almond Rice Pudding Recipe

How to make it

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• CHILL TIME OVERNIGHT
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• Preheat oven to 350F. Spread almonds on baking sheet and bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside to cool.
• In medium saucepan, bring 1 cup water and salt to a boil over high heat. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until water is absorbed and rice is tender, 16 to 20 minutes, depending on type of rice.
• Meanwhile, chop 1/4 cup toasted almonds and set aside for garnish. In blender, combine remaining 1 cup toasted almonds and 1 cup water. Blend until mixture is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 3/4 cups water and blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Strain almond “milk” through cheesecloth into cooked rice in saucepan, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. (Or, strain “milk” through fine-mesh sieve several times before adding to rice.)
• If using vanilla bean, scrape seeds into rice mixture with tip of knife then add bean, or stir in vanilla extract. Stir in maple syrup, return to a simmer and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer pudding to a bowl, removing vanilla bean if using. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• To serve, spoon rice pudding into dessert dishes, sprinkle with reserved almonds and garnish with strawberries and mint sprigs.