Sweet Treats

Rice Pudding: 3 Ways {Traditional, Coconut & Coffee}

Rice Pudding is one of those simple dishes you could eat over and over again. For breakfast, for dinner or for dessert, hot or cold, plain or dressed up, is one of a kind recipe. Easy to make and so versatile. Get ready to learn how you can make delicious Rice Pudding 3 ways: the traditional dairy version, the vegan coconut version and the coffee version {can be made dairy or vegan and is delicious!}

The Basics of Rice Pudding

Rice Pudding is one of the most basics and popular breakfasts, dinner and/or dessert served in Dominican Republic.

Is incredibly easy to make, and as you can see, super versatile. The most basic version need 5 ingredients: rice, milk, sugar, salt and lemon peel. For extra flavor some people also add cinnamon stick and sweet cloves, but let’s keep it simple this time. You can later experiment adding more flavor.

When making Rice Pudding I personally prefer to start with my rice uncooked, but you can certainly use leftover white rice, that is not too salty or greasy, and still have a delicious rice pudding.

Are you looking for more recipes with rice? Check out our Dominican Style Spicy Sardines Rice & Beer and Almonds Risotto

The Traditional Version

In general terms, the traditional version of Rice Pudding is made with Milk. Whole milk is just fine for the recipe, but if you are looking for the best of the best, thick and super creamy Rice pudding, always use evaporated milk.

Nowadays you can easily find evaporated plant based milks; you can certainly use that if you avoid dairy products.

The Coconut Version

To make the coconut version you just need to use full fat coconut milk instead of whole or plant-based milk of choice.

What I like about the coconut version is that it has such a silky texture and is very light compared with the dairy version. It also has a very delicate aroma, and a pure white color at the end, which I love. It just looks heavenly.

Keep in mind that in all recipes on the blog that call for Coconut milk we use FULL FAT, simply because we want all that coconut milk goodness in our final product. Fat free or low fat coconut milk are usually full of flavorings, including sugar, and use gums to give a thick texture, but the flavor in general is always off. Avoid yourself the headache of ruining a delicious silky smooth rice pudding by buying the best full fat coconut milk you can find on the market, with not extras or nasty ingredients.

The Coffee Version

Almost a month ago I published a photo on instagram of my breakfast that day: a small glass container full of Coffee Rice Pudding.

The idea just came to me when I couldn’t decide if I wanted a full delicious cup of coffee, or a bowl with freshly made thick and totally delicious rice pudding. Both fill up my stomach easily on their own, and because I couldn’t have both (obvious reason: I am trying to lose my next 25 pounds) I ended up adding a bit of instant coffee to the rice pudding while it was still hot.

Taste wise, the result was a-ma-zing! and to my surprise, that “out-of-the-blue-picture” quickly had over a hundred likes, so is a fact; instagram is full of #coffeelovers.  😛

How to Make Rice Pudding

Have you make this recipe or any other from the blog? Use the tag #kasheribbean to share on social media and, don’t forget to follow on instagram and pinterest to keep up with our easy recipes from us and the blogosphere!

So, now there is a gazillion possibilities on how you can take your traditional rice pudding to the next level. What special ingredient will you add to your very own version?

Until next time! ?

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Luscious Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream {No Added Sugar, Vegan, GF}

Shabuoth is coming soon and also Mother’s day in Dominican Republic and I will celebrate with this Luscious Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream. Yay!

Looking for more Shabuoth ideas? Check out 3 Full Menu Ideas for your Shabuoth Table & 20 Side Dishes to Bring more deliciousness to your Shabuoth Dinner

Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream?

Chocolate Ganache? Is that right?… Yes! In my quest to make a vegan, creamy, chocolaty ice cream, made without an ice cream maker and with minimum ingredients, this is the best version I could think of. (You tell me in the comments if there is any other that doesn’t involve frozen bananas!)

I have read about all of those methods for making ice cream without and ice cream machine, but I didn’t have the time or energy to make ice cream with such a hassle. If it wasn’t easy peasy I rather peel a banana and eat it, or would eat some grapes! (Now you see my level of laziness was really high!)

I was having a sweet tooth and also my 4yo so I needed this to be quick! And because ganache is one of the most (if not the most!) easy dessert on earth and it also has that thick, pudding like texture, I thought maybe, just maybe, it would turn into ice cream (or close enough).

The coolest thing about this recipe is that, it doesn’t require any special equipment, it is no custard based (so, no grains or eggs), doesn’t require extra bags or lots of ice cubes, or rock salt, or hours going back and forth to the fridge (unless you are actually eating it)…

I wanted to keep things very simple so I used the 2 ingredients, the basics of (vegan) ganache: Chocolate (I used 74% Cacao) and Coconut milk. That’s right! This Luscious Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream (which essentially is frozen ganache! Let’s say it! ) can be made with just 2 Ingredients. Talk about convenience!

A few notes on the ingredients

Go Full fat with the coconut milk and make sure it doesn’t have any weird ingredient, sugar, additives or gums for best results.

I used 74% chocolate so, this is a bittersweet ice cream, but you can use sweetener if you prefer. If you use granulated sugar, mix with the coconut milk and simmer until all the sugar is dissolve. Then, continue as normal.

I haven’t tested this with liquid sweeteners but I think it would work in the same way as a simple syrup added to the ice cream base. This also prevents ice crystals from forming.

If you are making for adults, feel free to add alcohol based vanilla, vodka or rum to prevent ice crystals.

How to make Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream

2 ingredients with a ratio of 1:2, Chocolate to Coconut milk. That’s it!

 

Mix the ingredients and let it rest until the ganache is shiny, thick and pudding-like.

Transfer to a deep container, cover with plastic wrap (making contact with the ganache) and let the freezer make some magic. Depending on your freezer this can take from 30 to 60 minutes.

Scoop the Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream with the help of a warm ice cream scoop, add your toppings and enjoy!

The Downside

This baby is made with ganache which means it melts in your mouth and everywhere fairly quick, so this is not the type of treat you will eat while chatting with that friend who you haven’t talked with for ages. Serve and you enjoy! 🙂

Tell me, what are your preferred base flavors and toppings? Let us know in the comment section and don’t forget to follow on instagram & pinterest!

If you love this recipe share it with your friends and family and if you ever make this Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream, tag us with #kasheribbean! We love to see your amazing creations!

Until next time!

 

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Dairy-Free Flan with Coconut Milk

Extra Creamy Dairy-Free Creme Caramel {Passover-friendly}

Extra Creamy Dairy-Free Creme Caramel {Kosher for Passover}

If you dream of making a super creamy dessert for your next gathering or holiday, today is your lucky day because I am sharing with you my recipe for an Extra Creamy Dairy-Free Creme Caramel (also known as “Flan”). Creme Caramel is naturally Gluten Free so, it is also perfect dessert for Pesach too. 

Another bonus of making flan is that is literally one of the easiest desserts on the planet, and it is made with very simple ingredients you probably have at home right now: coconut milk, eggs, milk, sugar and some flavoring. Vanilla is traditionally used, but rum extract or emulsion also adds a nice touch. 

Need more Pesach inspiraion and recipes? Check out other Pesach-friendly recipes from the blog over here and our Pesach Ingredients Swap List right here!

Another thing that I love about Creme Caramel is that it is a very forgiving dessert. If you are looking to reduce the sugar, you can cut in half the amouts for the caramel and the custard. At this time I haven’t yet tried with sugar substitutes, but the ones that are a cup-for-cup replacement for sugar should work with no problem. 

 


Thanks to the viscosity of the evaporated and condensed milk used in traditional Creme Caramel, the end result tends to be very silky and creamy. To make up for this,
I added 10 grams of cornstarch. Cornstarch is a thickening agent that can set about 4 times its weight. With this little addition of cornstarch we balance the creaminess of the custard, making it less “eggy” (which can be an issue when working with plant based milks). 

If you don’t eat kitniot during Pesach, you are welcome to leave the cornstarch out. You will still end up with flan, but since the cornstarch helps the custard set firmly and faster, I’d recommend you add and extra egg, and bake for a little longer, let’s say an extra 10-15 minutes if doing so.

A very important step when making creme caramel, is to bake it on a bain marie, which helps with even distribution of heat, and with the slow cooking of the egg, which in return gives you a more silky creamy custard. 

Dairy-Free Flan with Coconut Milk

A common mistake when making flan, is to overcook the custard. Don’t do it! But how do you know the custard is ready?? Wiggle the pan or ramekins. When the edges are set and the center jiggles a little, then is ready. The heat from the pan is hot enough to continue cooking the center of the flan, even when taken out of the oven. Once done, remove the creme caramel from the oven, and cool to room temperature completely before storing in the fridge overnight. 

If you are impatient, you can refrigerate for 4 hours before serving, but beware, chilling these babies overnight does make a difference in the texture of the final product (more creaminess, anyone?!) and also intensifies flavor. My recommendation for you is to plan ahead, and make this the day before serving. 

 

Dairy-Free Creme Caramel with Coconut Milk
Dairy-Free Flan with Coconut Milk

Extra Creamy Dairy Free Creme Caramel

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Rest time 12 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dominican Republic

Ingredients
  

For the Caramel:

  • 30 gr Water
  • 100 gr Granulated Sugar 

For the Creme Caramel:

  • 800 gr Full Fat Coconut milk
  • 300 gr Eggs
  • 100 gr Granulated Sugar 
  • 10 gr Corn Starch
  • 1/2 Tbsp Vanilla Extract You can also use Rum Extract. If using emulsion of any kind, add 1/2 teaspoon.
  • 1/4 tsp Salt 

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F)

For the caramel:

  • Combine water and sugar and melt over medium heat until it gets a deep amber color.
  • Take the caramel off the heat and coat with it 6 ramekins or 1 - 9" (inches) round cake pan.
  • Set aside to cool down and harden, before adding the custard.

For the Creme Caramel:

  • In a bowl, mix corn starch and 2-3 Tablespoons of coconut milk and mix well.
  • In bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the custard, including the previous mix of corn starch+coconut milk.
  • Pass the custard mixture through a fine sieve to discard any egg residue.
  • Equally divide the mixture into the ramekins or the 9 inches baking pan.
  • Fit the custard ramekins or cake pan into a bigger ovenproof dish (like Pyrex, a roasting pan, etc).
  • Place the ramekins or baking pan in the oven, and then carefully pour water into the bigger baking dish. The water should be 1½ to 2 inches deep.
  • When using ramekins, bake for 30-35 minutes. If using a 9 inches baking pan, bake for 60 minutes or until edges are firm but the center still jiggles a little.
  • Once ready, take out of the oven, and let it cool down completely before placing in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours; but preferably (and recommended) overnight.
  • When is time to serve, run a knife around the edge of the creme caramel and invert it into a bigger dish, preferably with slightly tall sides. The creme caramel will drop and you can see some caramel sauce flowing. Cut into slices and serve.

Notes

  • You can easily increase or decrease this recipe to fit your needs.
  • If you ever find yourself with leftover raw custard mixture, store it in an air-tight container and freeze. When ready to use, thaw completely, whisk really well or mix with a blender, just to make sure everything is well combined, pass through a sieve and then pour into the prepared ramekins or baking pan and bake.
 
Keyword custard, dairy-free, desserts, sweet treats

Have you made this Dairy-Free Creme Caramel already? Use the hashtag #kasheribbean to share with us on social media and, don’t forget to follow on instagram and pinterest for more easy recipes.

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Vegan Chocolate Chunks Cookies

Hello, dears! Today we share a super easy Vegan Chocolate Chips (or Chunks!) Cookies made with flax egg and coconut oil.

I found this recipe for vegan chocolate chips cookies while I was scrolling down Pinterest looking for vegan sweet treats and desserts for a small wedding.  I love Pinterest because it is an endless source of inspiration and ideas but haven’t actually tried many recipes I’ve liked. This time I was willing to try and I was surprised by the simplicity of these little goodies and the result.  You never know what little gem you can find on Pinterest!!

These Vegan chocolate chips cookies couldn’t be easier! – Not that traditional cookies are so difficult to make anyways, but what I love the most is that you don’t have to use tons of butter!. With just a handful of ingredients is needless to say, you will have cookies ready in no time.

When I tried this recipe for the first time, I used my handheld mixer as stated in the original recipe but this can be easily made by hand with a whisk and rubber spatula. I tried both ways and honestly I cannot see a difference in the results.

I also tried this recipe with the whole lot of sugar as stated in the original recipe (it uses both brown and white) and it was incredibly sweet for my taste so, second time I reduced the sugar and third time I used just white sugar because I was out of brown. Ops! (Next time I want to try with maple!)

These cookies spread a little in the oven and after baking for the whole 10 minutes they are more on the crunchy side, but if you want them softer I guess you can bake for 8 minutes and then let rest on the baking tray, out of the oven until they have cooled down and are completely set. I haven’t tried this myself because I love crunchy stuff, but I guess you can do this to get softer-chewy cookies.

Few adjustments

Flours can differ in quality depending where you are and how the flour was made so that can be a reason why I had to adjust the flour. Another factor may be also that the recipe is in cups and I weighted in grams (this is what ensures you get the same results each time).

The original recipe asks for 1 ¼ cups or as stated in grams 156.25 – I used 157 grams- and when I baked 2 for test purposes, they resembled more tuiles than actual cookies so I ended up using 210 grams for my second and third.

I have linked the original recipe so that you can have it for future reference if you want to try for yourself (There you will find a link for an aquafaba version of the cookies. Let us know if you try it first!) and, if you want to make tuiles like cookies you can stick to the 157grs of flour. 😀

Super Easy Vegan Chocolate Chips Cookies 

The process to make this cookies is pretty simple, you start by “creaming” fat and sugar (in this case coconut oil) and mix in flax egg and vanilla until light and fluffy. Then, add the flour in few additions (I integrated a bit with the handheld mixer and then I used my spatula). Finally, you mix in the chocolate chunks or chips.

You can make this recipe in advance, wrap in clear film and store in the fridge until ready to use. When you are ready to bake, just take spoonfuls of dough and bake as directed (180ºC or 350ºF for around 10 minutes or until they have a light golden color on the edges).

You can also scoop the cookie dough on your baking tray covered with baking paper, freeze and then store in a freezer bag. Thaw and bake as directed.

I have tried to bake the cookies without thawing but they take a little longer to bake. Also, I noticed the coconut oil was melting away from the cookie dough while baking, when I placed directly from the freezer into the oven. Not sure why, so I personally won’t risk to freeze the dough again, but you can try it if you want.

The author recommends to slam the baking tray on a heat proof surface to give the cookies a wrinkled look. I didn’t do this because I forgot. Big Oops!! But will keep in mind for the next time and make sure you do it!

Now, let’s jump to the recipe

{NOW IMAGINE A PLATE FULL OF COOKIES! THEY JUST DISAPPEARED BEFORE I COULD TAKE PICTURES!)

Did you realize how easy is to make vegan chocolate chips cookies? Hope you try them soon and let us know when you try it. Don’t forget to follow on instagram and pinterest to keep up with our latest posts. We love to hear from you!

Until next time!

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Sahlab or Sachlav: A Yummy Winter Beverage

Learn how to make Sahlab, Sachlav or Salep,  This interesting hybrid between a beverage and soft pudding/custard, is a middle eastern treat typically prepared in Israel as a winter favorite (I tried this on April this year so you may also find it in certain cafes all year round). This cold weather calls for a hot beverage and this one couldn’t be easier.

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The concussion of coconut and rosewater flavors present in this beverage makes it so comforting. I have made this recipe before (did I tell you I am a fan of coconut in every form?) with just vanilla extract because i didn’t have the rosewater and it was good, but the rosewater gives it a much better kick and deeper aroma. Talking about aroma, the aroma is so heavenly, so do your best to find the rosewater is not like anything you have tasted before. You won’t be disappointed. Still, if you can’t, don’t worry and use vanilla extract this time. It will be good anyways (this with vanilla flavor reminds me of the coquito without the rum, a puertorican hot beverage typically served for winter)

 

To make Sahlab you just need a handful of ingredients and you will be enjoying this yummy beverage for your breakfast or dinner in no time.



As you can see Sahlab is so easy to do. Have you tried yet? In case you haven’t, we hope you give it a try soon! When you make Sahlab don’t forget to share your pics and tag us as #sisterblissdiary on instagram! Also, you can show us some Pinterest love…
Until next time!

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