Last Updated on May 19, 2020 by Chef Mireille
Pumpkin Rice Pudding is a customizable dessert as each person can add as much or little of the roasted pumpkin topping as they prefer.
I am a big pumpkin fan and eat it year round. Pumpkin is used a lot in Caribbean food. In the Caribbean, pumpkin is used more in savory dishes than sweet and I often use it in soups, stews and curries. However, I enjoy it just as much in sweet things too.
If you’re a rice pudding fanatic, raise your hand. My hand is definitely up. I love rice pudding in all it’s varieties from every culture. I’ve yet to try a rice pudding I didn’t like and I have tried many.
This pumpkin rice pudding will make everyone happy – even those who are not big pumpkin fans. The pumpkin in the rice pudding itself is very mild and unless you tell your guests, they will hardly even be able to tell there is pumpkin in it, yet it’s a great way to include the healthy vegetable in a dessert.
However, for those who LOVE pumpkin in any form, the Roasted Pumpkin Topping can be served on the side as an optional garnish. Therefore, it’s a very customizable dessert that’s perfect for your holiday table. Your guests can add as little or as much of the pumpkin topping as they desire.
Add this customizable dessert to your holiday table and everyone will go home happy – both the pumpkin lovers as well as the pumpkin haters!
Quatre Epices
I used quatre epices in this version. This is a spice blend used in French and Middle Eastern cuisine. It is a blend of white and/or black pepper, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. This blend is so versatile it can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. If you can’t locate quatre epices, you can use pumpkin pie spice or just keep it simple and use only cinnamon or any combination of sweet spices you like.
…and don’t forget to check out my other Rice Pudding Recipes
Rice Pudding Recipes
Rijstpap – Belgian Rice Pudding
Akkaravadisal -Indian Rice Pudding
Kolkandu Pongal – Indian Rock Sugar Rice Pudding
Paal Payasam – South Indian Rice Pudding
Appelsinris – Norwegian Orange Rice Pudding
Champorado – Filipino Chocolate Rice Pudding
Khao Neow Sung Khaya – Thai Black Rice Pudding Custard
Add this customizable dessert to your holiday table and everyone will go home happy – both the pumpkin lovers as well as the pumpkin haters!
They can even have it plain if they like!
Pumpkin Rice Pudding
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pumpkin
- 3 cups water
- 13.5 oz can coconut milk
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup rice
- 1 ½ teasoons quatre epices
- a pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- Roasted Pumpkin Topping:
- 1 lb. peeled and chopped pumpkin
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- a pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- First let’s make the pumpkin topping.
- Combine pumpkin, ginger, cardamom, salt, sugar and butter in a baking dish. Toss to combine.
- Roast in oven for 30 minutes, until fork tender.
- Meanwhile, let's start the pudding.
- Combine pumpkin and water in a saucepan. Cook on high heat for 20 minutes.
- Using a potato masher, mash the pumpkin.
- Add coconut milk, milk, rice, quatre espices and vanilla. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes until the rice is soft and tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add condensed milk and simmer another 5 minutes.
- To serve, garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
- Serve roasted pumpkin on the side as an additional optional garnish.
Notes
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I love a good rice pudding… I have never made anything sweet with pumpkin, really hoping to try something soon… That bowl of pudding seems to have a lot of spices going in…
Here in US pumpkin is generally used more for sweet than savory but I think it is just as good as either 🙂
Awesome. I will make this for the coming navarathri festival. Looks absolutely delicious
I am sure you will love it – perfect to celebrate the festival!
Looks delicious! Perfect for Fall
yes perfect time to take advantage of seasonal pumpkin
That is an impressive list of rice pudding you have made, Mir. This pumpkin version looks amazing. Until I started baking, I didn’t know that pumpkin is a great ingredient to add in sweets. But now I love it.
Yes I love rice pudding in all its variations!
Few days back, I made pumpkin puree which is crying to be used. Here you are with this delicious looking pumpkin rice pudding. This gives me an idea to use my puree though in a different way.Thanks for the share
yes just adding the puree into the rice pudding would be so delicious also
Not all of my friends and family members are pumpkin fans so I love that the amount pumpkin is customizable in this recipe!
yes when hosting many people it’s good to have customizable options to keep everyone happy 🙂
Love rice pudding and I can’t wait to try this version!!!
I am sure you will love it!
I am a pumpkin lover too and I just posted the pumpkin spice overnight oats 🙂 I would love to make this pumpkin rice pudding. Will ping you if I have questions when I am making it 🙂
sure and I am sure you will love it
Even i love pumpkins very much and i always wait for autumn season as pumpkins shows their heads in local markets. Pumpkin rice pudding looks fabulous to enjoy after a heavy meal. Delectable dessert.
yep love pumpkin in all the ways it can be cooked
Mir, you have quite a collection of rice pudding recipes and this is yet another lovely one to add to that. I love the spice mixture going into it and those pictures looks really tempting!
yep proud rice pudding fanatic here!
We know your love for rice pudding! I ahve bookmarked so many of them and this one goes in the list too.I guess I will be making this one first as I have a huge pumpkin waiting to be used.That and some pumkin pie spice that a friend got for me.My kids will finish it off thinking of payasam /kheer 🙂
absolutely the most delicious way to use up that pumpkin!
This recipe sure takes the rice pudding concept to another level. The addition of both coconut and condensed milks, pumpkin and those flavorful spices together must have added loads of flavor to it.
yes – it definitely is a flavorful version I am sure you will love
Mir, your blog is a great resource for all things rice puddings. Adding pumpkin to rice pudding sounds just perfect for this time of the year. And that roasted pumpkin topping is great to customize the sweetness.
thanks – yes I do love a good rice pudding!
Mir, your presentation looks awesome..too good. I love pudding and this one sounds really fantastic with pumpkin. As you have mentioned in the comments, we are not too into sweet dishes with pumpkin and more into curries. This one is a good one to try!
and here people do so many sweet dishes with pumpkin – in fact some people don’t even know about cooking fresh pumpkin and only use canned – I discovered that when I was teaching a class and making a soup with fresh pumpkin
I have never combined pumpkin and rice and this looks a must try. Very Inviting and yum.
thanks – am sure you will love it!
I know your love for rice pudding mir!!! I too love a good pudding!!! This pumpkin one looks so tempting, love the way you have served them, that topping too sounds yumm!!!
thank you – love people who share my love of rice pudding!
Is the 12-oz of pumpkin cooked in the 3 cups of water meant to be mashed without draining? Or do you discard the extra water?
Drain out the extra water. I will edit the recipe to make this more clear. thanks for pointing it out!