Fırın Sütlaç, Turkish Baked Rice Pudding

By Elizabeth Taviloglu

Updated 01/05/18

Turkish rice pudding
Turkish baked rice pudding is cooked in small terracotta bowls and served slightly charred on top. Photo © S-cphoto/E+/Getty Images
Ratings (42)
  • Total: 40 mins
  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yield: 2 to 4 Servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
496 Calories
11g Fat
87g Carbs
13g Protein
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If you liked custard and rice pudding as a child, you'll love this recipe for baked rice pudding, known in Turkey as fırın sütlaç (fur-UHN' soot-LAHCH'). Turkey is famous for its wide selection of milk-based desserts and puddings, and baked rice pudding is the cream of the crop. It holds a very special place in Turkish cuisine—you'll find that it's made in every home and served in every Turkish restaurant.

Adults and kids alike love baked rice pudding, a healthy dessert choice after a big meal. It's best when made with fresh whole milk and chilled several hours before serving. Some Turkish folks still go out of their way to seek out fresh, non-pasteurized milk to make fırın sütlaç. It's said that the tricks to making perfect rice pudding are fresh milk, slow cooking, constant stirring, and lots of patience.

Ingredients

  • 1​/2 cup uncooked rice
  • 4 3/4 cups whole​ milk, divided
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 egg yolk beaten with 3 tablespoons milk

Steps to Make It

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).

  2. Wash the rice and place it in a large saucepan with enough water to cover it by about 1/2 inch. Bring it to a boil and reduce the heat. Let the rice simmer gently until the rice is soft, about 5 minutes.

  3. Add 3 3/4 cups milk, the sugar, and vanilla extract to the rice. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it boil very gently for about 10 minutes.

  4. Using a whisk, mix together the remaining 1 cup milk and the cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth. While stirring, gradually pour this mixture into the rice. Turn up the heat and continue stirring the pudding until scalding.

  5. When the pudding thickens, continue to stir and cook for about 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat and fill small, ovenproof dessert cups, clay cups, or disposable aluminum pudding cups with the hot mixture.

  6. Using a spoon, drizzle a small amount of the egg yolk and milk mixture into the center of each dessert cup. With the back of the spoon, use a light, circular motion to swirl the egg yolk from the center to the edges so it spreads evenly over the top of each cup.

  7. Bake the pudding cups until the tops are nicely browned, about 20 minutes. Let the cups cool at room temperature and then refrigerate for several hours before serving.