This healthy Thai black rice pudding is easy to make and tastes absolutely amazing. It's nourishing, comforting, and filled with healthy ingredients to sustain your energy throughout the day. Full of iron, vitamin E, and antioxidants; black rice berry is a nutritional powerhouse. Here I warm it up with black sesame milk and top with ripe mango, blueberries, pistachio, and coconut chips.
I was introduced to this recipe in a vegan cafe in Chiang Mai while on a culinary adventure in 2015, It's one of those dishes that I can still vividly remember to this day.
Coming from West Ireland, my view of breakfast porridge was based solely on oats, so the idea of having rice in porridge was new to me.
And what an experience it was! Warm black rice, cooked in sweet coconut milk and served with fresh mango. The art of simplicity with 3 harmonious ingredients!
Jump to:
- My black rice pudding variation
- Porridge V Pudding
- What is Thai rice berry?
- Riceberry nutrition
- Black rice V Riceberry
- Do I need to soak black rice before cooking?
- How do you cook Riceberry?
- What does Riceberry taste like?
- More porridges from around the world to discover
- Ingredients you will need to make black rice pudding
- How to cook black rice pudding
- Chef's tips & recipe variations
- More breakfast recipes to try
- Black sesame milk
- 📋 Recipe
- How to cook Thai black rice pudding video tutorial
- Black rice pudding for meal prep
- Black rice pudding for restaurant menus
- Make each day your masterpiece
- FAQ
My black rice pudding variation
In this recipe, I'm adapting the original recipe of coconut milk for locally made black sesame milk. For some background flavors, I infuse with star anise and orange zest. Topped with fresh mango, blueberries, pistachio, and coconut chips for a satisfying bowl of goodness!
Porridge V Pudding
What's the difference between porridge and pudding?
Porridge and Pudding are terms that describe similar recipes. Generally, pudding is associated with colder recipes such as breakfast chia pudding or fruit puddings.
Do you remember Ambrosia rice pudding?! I've fond memories of hitting the jackpot when finding a full tin of Devon's Ambrosia in the cupboard!
Many cultures around the world have their own type of porridge and puddings; From Scotland to India; porridge is a staple food enjoyed by millions of people every day.
Porridge can be cooked using various types of grain; rice, oat, barley, lentil, millet, teff or quinoa can all be used. Porridge is the ultimate comfort food; it's nourishing, easy on digestion, and full of flavor.
What is Thai rice berry?
Thailand grows a diversity of rice grains, but Riceberry rice is one of a few that stands out among others, thanks to its unique dark purple color and long-grained shape. It’s a cross-breed between Hom Nil rice and KhaoDok Mali 105.
Riceberry rice is an ideal staple to add to your meals. Not only does this strain of rice taste really good, but Riceberry also provides a whole host of incredible health benefits.
Riceberry nutrition
The nutritional properties of Riceberry are concentrated in its bran. This is true with all cereals, meaning that it is best to consume whole grains, rather than polished and refined grains.
More information on Riceberry nutrition is here.
Helps to reduce cholesterol
Similar to other whole grain counterparts, Riceberry rice is rich in anthocyanin, which helps lowering cholesterol in the blood vessels. Riceberry is recommended for people suffering from obesity or cardiovascular disease.
Rich in antioxidants
Riceberry rice contains beta carotene, Gamma Oryzanol, vitamin E, and a lot more antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals and the growth of cancer cells.
Medium to low Glycemic Index (GI)
Glycemic Index or GI Value is the ranking of carbohydrate in food on how it affects blood glucose levels. Food with a high GI is considered bad for your body, as it results in high levels of blood sugar. Riceberry is determined to have medium to low GI, which is recommended for those who are trying to reduce sugar intake.
High in fiber
Riceberry rice is abundant in fiber which helps promote good digestion.
Black rice V Riceberry
Riceberry must not be mistaken for black rice. There are several types of black rice around the world. China, India, Indonesia, and Thailand all have different varieties of black rice.
Any variety of black or brown rice can be used in this recipe. You will just need to adapt the cooking time of the rice depending on the type of rice used.
Do I need to soak black rice before cooking?
If your using glutinous black rice or Chinese black rice (forbidden black rice), it's necessary to soak the rice for at least 2 hours, or overnight before cooking.
There is no need to soak Riceberry before cooking.
How do you cook Riceberry?
The process of cooking Riceberry is similar to preparing almost any kind of rice. There are just two differences. The first is that you don’t need to wash it, and the second is the amount of water you use to cook it.
I like using a weight ratio of 1 part Riceberry to 2 parts water. This results in rice that is tender on the inside but still has a bit of a chew.
If you like your rice softer you can slightly increase the amount of water and cook for a little longer.
As for the process, it’s just a matter of adding the rice and water to a pot and then covering it, and bringing it to a boil before lowering the heat and letting it simmer for twenty minutes.
Once cooked, it’s important to allow the rice to continue steaming for another ten minutes off the heat with the lid on, to ensure the rice is evenly cooked.
What does Riceberry taste like?
Riceberry has a strong fragrance that’s savory and almost meaty or umami in the aroma. As it’s whole grain rice, the bran provides a similar texture to brown rice. The interior is tender, nutty and a little sweet
More porridges from around the world to discover
- Ethiopian teff porridge
- African millet porridge
- Indian kitchari
- Chinese 8 treasure congee
- Irish oat porridge
- Thai rice congee
- Indonesian black rice porridge
Ingredients you will need to make black rice pudding
- Thai Riceberry or black rice
- Coconut milk or black sesame milk
- Star anise - optional
- Orange - zest
- Maple or your sweetener of choice
- Salt - a small pinch to flavor the rice and balance the sweetness
How to cook black rice pudding
The process is relatively very simple.
- Pre-cook the black Riceberry
- Warm the cooked Riceberry in plant milk infused with some flavors.
- Add your favorite sweetener to taste
- Serve with ripe mango or seasonal fruits available in your region
- Top with nuts or seeds as desired
- Pour some extra plant milk over the top just before serving
Check out the full video tutorial below the recipe card for the step-by-step method.
Chef's tips & recipe variations
- Pre-cook the rice in advance
- Try adding a spoon of cacao for more depth of flavor
- Add some raisins for natural sweetness and a nice texture
- Rice porridge can be served hot or cold; both are equally as nice
More breakfast recipes to try
- Oat and chia seed porridge
- Quinoa porridge
- Fig and apple Bircher
- Sesame milk Bircher
- Chocolate chia pudding
- Black sesame milk chai pudding
- Teff breakfast bowl
- Buckwheat kasha
Black sesame milk
This recipe post is sponsored by Sesamilk, Thailand, which produces premium quality black and white sesame milk with 0% sugar. This milk can be incorporated into many recipes for a flavorful and nutritional boost. I used black sesame milk in this recipe in place of traditional coconut milk. The black sesame milk gives a delicious flavor and vibrant color to this recipe
We hope you enjoy this delicious recipe. We're happy to share it with you. If you make this recipe please let us know in the comments below what you think. We love seeing your recreations. Happy cooking friends!
📋 Recipe
Black Rice Pudding with Mango
Equipment
- Weighing scales
- Rice cooker
- Mixing bowl
- Strainer
- Saucepan
- Spatula
- Serving bowl
Ingredients
To pre-cook the black rice
- 100 g Thai Black Riceberry
- 250 ml Water - filtered
To make the porridge
- 250 g Thai Black Riceberry cooked
- 200 ml Plant milk black sesame
- 1 each Orange peel x1
- 1 each Star anise
- 1 pinch Pink salt
- 30 g Maple or honey
To garnish
- 1 each Mango diced
- 20 g Pistachio
- 40 g Blueberries
- 10 g Coconut chips
- 50 ml Plant milk black sesame
Instructions
To pre-cook the black rice
- Cook the black Riceberry in a rice cooker or as per packet instructions.100 g Thai Black Riceberry
- I cook Thai black Riceberry 2 parts water to 1 part soaked rice. If you are using Chinese forbidden black rice or another wild rice it may take a little longer to cook.100 g Thai Black Riceberry, 250 ml Water - filtered
- The aim is to have a nice batch of black Riceberry pre-cooked. Arranging this is probably the most challenging aspect of this recipe! You can pre-cook a nice big batch, it can be used in stir-fries or salads also.
To make the black rice porridge
- Add the black sesame plant-milk or your chosen milk to a saucepan. Put 1 star anise and 1 peel of orange in the milk along with a pinch of salt. Turn on to low heat and bring to a slow simmer for 2 minutes to infuse the aromatics.200 ml Plant milk, 1 each Orange, 1 each Star anise, 1 pinch Pink salt
- Next, in with the cooked black Riceberry, you can leave the aromatics in and take them out later.250 g Thai Black Riceberry
- Gently warm through and cook out the porridge for 5-6 minutes, stirring throughout.
- It's important to cook gently and slowly to allow the black Riceberry to absorb the milk and for the liquid to reduce slightly to give a nice consistency. If it's getting a little think, you can add a few more splashes of water or plant-milk.
- Add sweetener and stir in. Have a taste and adjust seasoning. Add more sweet, spice or a pinch of salt.30 g Maple
- And that's it! Your black Riceberry porridge is ready to serve.
To serve black rice pudding
- Transfer the black rice pudding into serving bowls.
- Top with diced mango, blueberries, pistachios.1 each Mango, 40 g Blueberries, 20 g Pistachio
- Garnish with coconut chips and pistachio nut10 g Coconut chips
- Pour over another shot of sesame plant-milk just before serving OR serve with the extra shot on the side for your guest to pour.
- Adding the extra shot of plant-milk helps lighten everything up and makes it easier to eat.
Nutrition
How to cook Thai black rice pudding video tutorial
Black rice pudding for meal prep
This recipe is very suitable for meal prep menus. Batch cook the rice and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. It can be served hot or cold with your favorite seasonal fruits. Top with nuts and seeds for a super nutritious meal prep component.
Black rice pudding for restaurant menus
This recipe is a great addition to your breakfast or even dessert menus. Riceberry can be pre-cooked in large batches as part of kitchen preparations.
Black rice pudding will appeal to a wide variety of clientele. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, and highly nutritious. It will bring an Asian feel to your restaurant or cafe menus.
Breakfast buffet menus
Black rice porridge can be served hot or cold, garnished with various seasonal fruits, nuts, and seeds. It will make a visually appealing live station on your breakfast buffet.
An lá carte menu
This recipe can be quickly heated up for a cafe-style menu service. Top with some nice garnishes and serve with extra milk on the side. Try blueberry chia seed jam or peanut butter as extra add-ons.
Wellness menus
Try adding black rice pudding to nutritional meal plans as part of wellness menus. It's nourishing and provides good energy throughout the morning. It can be incorporated into weight-loss or detox meal plan menus.
Make each day your masterpiece
Starting your day with a sustaining and nourishing breakfast will set you up and energize you for all the challenges that will come your way.
Break-your-fast in style my friends!
FAQ
This recipe will last for up to 3 days in the fridge. Add some liquid or plant milk and warm through or serve chilled.
Thai Riceberry, black rice, or brown rice can be used in this recipe. All are equally as nice. Please note, that different kinds of rice will have different cooking times, please refer to the packet for cooking time and instructions.
Karen Corbett
I love riceberry. That's a great idea to flavor the milk.
Jamie Raftery
Hi Karen, thank you, try adding vanilla or various spices to give some nice aromas to the milk - and pudding. Happy cooking 🙂 Jamie
Melanie Dee
Oh my, sounds like a delicious exotic dish, with an interesting combination of ingredients.
Jamie Raftery
Hi Melanie, it sure is delicious. Thailand provides some amazing flavors and ingredients. Happy cooking, Jamie
Marta Skeledžija
This looks so good. I bet it tastes divine. Yummy
Jamie Raftery
Thank you Marta, it's a lovely combination of Thai ingredients. Black sesame milk is easy enough to make. Here is my recipe Happy cooking, Jamie