Cardamom Saffron Indian Rice Pudding

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A fragrant Indian dessert featuring creamy rice pudding infused with cardamom and saffron, garnished with toasted pistachios. This Indian-inspired recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers basmati rice, whole milk, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 50 min Serves 4 Indian cuisine 310 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Rinse 1/2 cup basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear, then soak in water for 30 minutes and drain.
  2. Step 2: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 4 cups whole milk and the drained rice. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
  3. Step 3: Add 6 lightly crushed green cardamom pods and reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 40-45 minutes until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 3/4 cup granulated sugar and the saffron soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk, cooking for an additional 5 minutes until sugar dissolves and pudding thickens further.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp rose water.
  6. Step 6: Discard cardamom pods, then spoon pudding into serving bowls and garnish with 1/4 cup chopped toasted pistachios and 2 tbsp toasted slivered almonds.
  7. Step 7: Serve warm or chilled according to preference.

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