Best 6 Italian Pudding Recipes

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Mix milk, rice, 1/2 of the sugar, vanilla extract, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
• Blend remaining sugar with whole eggs and yolks in a bowl to make a creamy custard.
• Reduce heat of the milk mixture. Let simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes. Fold in the custard. Heat until thickened again, about 5 minutes more.
• Beat cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
• Remove the milk and custard mixture from heat. Let cool, about 10 minutes. Fold in the whipped cream. Pour pudding into a serving dish, cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.

ITALIAN (ARBORIO) RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan; add rice, butter, and salt. Place a cover on the saucepan, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook rice at a simmer until the rice is tender and the moisture is mostly absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Stir half-and-half and sugar into the rice until the sugar dissolves; add cinnamon stick and lemon peel. Bring the mixture to a boil and remove from heat.
• Place a large stainless steel bowl atop a pot of simmering water. Pour the rice mixture into the top of the double boiler and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Pour rice pudding into a serving dish. Remove and discard cinnamon stick and lemon peel from pudding; let cool slightly before garnishing with cinnamon to serve.

ITALIAN BREAKFAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 2 teaspoons butter and set aside.
• Melt 2 teaspoons butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, green and red bell peppers, 1 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add parsley, stir, and remove from heat. Let vegetables cool.
• Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir sausage in the hot skillet until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain sausage on a plate lined with a paper towel.
• Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add milk, half-and-half, Italian seasoning, remaining 1 teaspoon pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and whisk to combine. Add bread cubes and let sit for 5 minutes. Add cooked sausage, bacon, vegetables, Cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and stir to incorporate. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until almost set, 50 to 55 minutes.
• Combine remaining 1/2 cup bread crumbs, remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and remaining 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Remove pudding from oven, leaving oven on. Uncover and sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly over the top. Return to the oven and increase heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Continue baking until pudding is completely set in the center, puffed, and golden brown on top, about 20 minutes more.
• Remove from oven and allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

BERRY STRATA (ITALIAN BERRY BREAD PUDDING)

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Turn off the heat, add the honey, and stir to combine. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the eggs, ricotta, and sugar. Using a fork, mix to combine and beat the eggs. Add the milk, orange juice, butter and honey mixture, and bread. Stir to combine. Gently fold in the berries. Place the ingredients in a 10-inch round (2-quart) baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the strata until golden on top and baked through, about 40 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon into dishes and serve.

ITALIAN CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• Line a 9 inch pie plate with plastic wrap, leaving a few inches overhang on all edges.
• Whisk the eggs with the sugar in a large bowl, adding the cornstarch whisking until no lumps remain.
• In a medium saucepan, add the cream and milk and simmer over low heat for a couple of minutes. Turn off the heat and slowly pour about 1 cup of the hot milk-cream into the egg bowl, whisking steadily, to temper the eggs. When blended, slowly pour the tempered eggs back into the saucepan of milk and cream, again whisking constantly.
• Put the pan back over medium-low heat, and whisk steadily until the custard heats and thickens. Don't let it boil, though it should bubble occasionally. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, until it is quite thick.
• Remove from the heat, and stir in the crumbled biscotti, chopped chocolate, nuts, and cocoa powder. Stir continuously until the chocolate has melted and all the ingredients are evenly blended. Pour the custard into the pie plate, and cover with plastic wrap, laying it directly on the top of the pudding. Refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve: Remove the top sheet of plastic, invert onto a serving plate, and cut into wedges. Top with unsweetened whipped cream and coarsely crumbled biscotti (if you have any left) or crushed hazelnuts; in season, strawberries or raspberries would be wonderful.

ITALIAN-STYLE CREAM PUDDING

Steps:

• 1. In a medium pot, evenly sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water. Let stand 5 minutes.
• 2. Cook and stir over low heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved but don't let it boil.
• 3. Whisk in the cream, Splenda and vanilla. Pour the cream mixture into a blender. Add the ricotta cheese. Blend on high speed until pureed and smooth.
• 4. Pour into 6 custard cups or small dessert dishes. Chill at least 2 hours or until set.