Cardamom-Spiced Rice Pudding with Pistachio Crunch
Silky rice pudding infused with warm cardamom and topped with toasted pistachios for a comforting, textured dessert. This Middle Eastern-inspired recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers short grain 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 270 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.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup short grain rice
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup chopped pistachios
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp honey
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 3/4 cup short grain rice under cold water until water runs clear, then drain.
- Step 2: In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the rinsed rice and 4 cups whole milk. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens, about 35-40 minutes.
- Step 4: Stir in 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp salt, cooking for an additional 5 minutes until sugar dissolves and pudding is creamy.
- Step 5: While pudding simmers, heat 1 tbsp butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup chopped pistachios and toast, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tbsp honey to coat pistachios.
- Step 6: Serve the rice pudding warm or chilled, topped generously with the honey-glazed pistachios.








