3.11.2021: Make Vegan Milchreis with Alex!
3.11.2021: Make Vegan Milchreis with Alex! Heading link
My favorite German dessert is Milchreis, which directly translates to “milk rice.” I would compare it to a rice pudding, however, it is much better than rice pudding. So I was really disappointed when I developed a dairy allergy a couple years ago and could not enjoy Milchreis anymore. That put me on a quest to create a vegan recipe for Milchreis! This recipe was originally my German grandfather’s recipe for Milchreis, but I have changed it to suit my needs.
Ingredients:
- 190 grams of round-grain rice/medium grain rice (190 grams= 1 cup)
- .75 liter of vegan milk of your choice (it does affect the flavor, see below)
- A pinch of salt
- Heat the milk in a pan to almost boiling (be careful, vegan milk can burn)
- Add in the rice and salt. Keep it at high heat for a minute and stir
- Change it to low heat and let it cook for 20-25 minutes with the lid on. Make sure to stir occasionally because the rice can burn.
- Once it is finished, it should have a relatively thick consistency, almost like pudding. You can enjoy it warm or cold
The vegan milk of your choice is important to the taste of the Milchreis. I find that coconut milk makes the Milchreis have a strong coconut taste. If you like coconut, I do recommend it. I like to use almond milk. I have found that it tends to be the most neutral tasting milk. It makes the Milchreis taste like the real thing; this has been verified by my dairy-eating sister. I have also tried it with soy and oat milk. They both work well but if you want a more authentic taste I recommend almond milk.
Milchreis is normally topped with various toppings. In summer and fall when fresh fruit is available, you can put cherries, raspberries, pears, and apples on top (but maybe not all of them at once). It is customary to put a little bit of cinnamon and sugar on top of your Milchreis. Some people put Cardamom on top, it gives it a nice refreshing taste. I prefer cinnamon and sugar with some jam. Also, you can add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract when you add the rice in.
Vegan food is becoming more common in Germany. I haven’t been to a German grocery store in years, but I would not be surprised if I could find vegan Milchreis today. I hope German food and vegan food continue to evolve, so I can eat all the delicious sausages that are popular in Germany but vegan.
–Alex