Almond Amaretto Chocolate Rice Pudding

Rice pudding is a classic dish, which I used to find awfully bland and boring. I then thought that it didn't need to be like that, so I combined my two favourite things, amaretto and chocolate and concocted a recipe for this gorgeous rice pudding which will convert even the skeptics into rice pudding lovers.

On to the recipe: (Makes 4 portions)

Ingredients: 

100g pudding rice

900ml milk (preferably whole fat) 

6 tbsp caster sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tsp vanilla essence 

1 tsp almond flavouring 

4 tbsp ground/flaked almonds 

30ml amaretto liqueur

double cream (to loosen the mixture if needed) 

Method: 

1.Heat the milk up in a large pan with caster sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla and almond extract until the cocoa powder has dissolved and it resembles hot chocolate

2. Add the pudding rice and stir over a medium heat 

3. After 10 minutes add the amaretto liqueur 

4. Leave on the heat for approximately 30 minutes more, stiring consistently every 5 minutes (so it doesn't stick) 

5. One you get the desired consistency (thick but pour-able) remove from heat (you can loosen the mixture with double cream if it is too thick) 

6. In a un-oiled pan lightly fry the ground/flaked almonds for a minute or so, until they are slightly golden. 

7.Optionally, place into a ramekin (which I found is easier to re-heat) and top with the almonds

 There you have it, a rich chocolaty almond dessert, Enjoy xx