Description
Traditional Norwegian rice porridge (risgrøt) - a creamy comforting dish made with rice and milk. Perfect for Christmas or cozy winter meals.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 3/4 cup short-grain rice ("grøtris", 180 grams) - or arborio rice if you can't find it (3/4 cup, 160 grams)
- 1 2/3 cups water (400 mililiters)
- 4 cups whole milk (1 liter)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (125 mililiters, optional)
Instructions
- Boil the rice: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, bring the water and rice to a gentle boil. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, until most of the water is absorbed.
- Add milk and cook slowly: Pour in the milk, stir well, and reduce the heat to low. Add sugar if using. Let the porridge simmer very gently for 50-55 minutes, stirring often - especially toward the end - to prevent scorching or boiling over. The mixture thickens quickly in the last 10-15 minutes. Keep the heat low enough to avoid boiling over, but high enough that it continues to simmer gently. It can be a fine balance - plan to stay nearby and adjust the heat as needed.
- If using heavy cream: Add the cream when the porridge starts to thicken (at about 45 minutes) and simmer until it has been absorbed, another 10-15 minutes.
- Finish: When the rice grains are tender and most of the milk has been absorbed, stir in the salt.
- Taste: the porridge should be thick and creamy, not watery, and the rice soft but not mushy.
- Serve: Ladle into serving bowls and sprinkle sugar, cinnamon and a pat of butter on top.
Notes
* If using arborio rice ("risotto rice"): It takes a bit longer - about 1 hour and 15-20 minutes total (before adding cream). The result is creamier, with less bite in the grains and more like a creamy pudding than a porridge, though the flavor is similar.
Tip 1: Keep stirring often to prevent sticking or burning, especially in the final stages.
Tip 2: Cold leftovers are perfect as a dessert, just fold it into whipped cream and make Norwegian rice cream dessert!
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch
- Cuisine: Norwegian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 25