Degchi
Payesh (Bengali Rice Pudding)
Serves 6 · Total 55 min · Prep 10 min · Cook 45 min
Photo: Vnair23 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Whole short-grain rice simmered slowly in milk with sugar and bay leaf until the grains turn soft and the milk reduces to a thick, pale pudding. Cooked for every birthday in a Bengali household — tradition says the first solid food a baby eats is often payesh.
Quick answer: 55 min in total · serves 6 · main ingredients: Rice, Milk, Sugar, Cardamom · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 100 g 0.5 cup Rice, short-grain, washed
- 1.5 l 6.3 cup Milk
- 150 g 0.75 cup Sugar
- 4 pc 4 pc Cardamom, crushed
- 1 pc 1 pc Bay leaf (Optional)
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Dry fruits, raisins and cashews (Optional)
Steps
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- Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot with the bay leaf.⏱ Boiling the milk · 5 min
- Add the washed rice and simmer on low heat, stirring often so it does not stick, until the grains soften.⏱ Cooking the rice in milk · 25 min
- Stir frequently throughout so the milk does not catch or stick at the bottom of the pot.
- Add the sugar and cardamom; continue simmering, stirring often, until the milk reduces and thickens to a pudding consistency.⏱ Thickening the payesh · 20 min
- Stir in the raisins and cashews.
- Serve warm or chilled, as preferred.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Payesh (Bengali Rice Pudding) take?
55 minutes in total: about 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking.
Is Payesh (Bengali Rice Pudding) hard to make?
Degchi rates it easy. The method has 6 steps, and 3 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Payesh (Bengali Rice Pudding) serve?
This recipe serves 6. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Payesh (Bengali Rice Pudding) halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Payesh (Bengali Rice Pudding)?
Spice-box items: cardamom. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: milk. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: rice, sugar.
Any tips for making Payesh (Bengali Rice Pudding)?
Payesh thickens more as it cools, so take it off the heat while it is still a little thinner than you want the final texture. Rice and jaggery: aromatic short-grain rice such as gobindobhog is the classic choice. For nolen gur (winter date-palm jaggery) payesh, turn off the heat, let the milk cool until just warm and stir the jaggery in gently, using whole milk, to avoid curdling.
Notes and questions
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Cooking terms in this recipe: Elaichi (cardamom) · Tej patta (bay leaf)
