Fırın Sütlaç (Turkish Baked Rice Pudding)

Written by
Elizabeth Taviloglu
Food writer Elizabeth Taviloğlu learned Turkish cooking hands-on in Turkey where she has lived and traveled for more than 24 years.
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Elizabeth Taviloglu
Updated 11/20/20
Turkish rice pudding

S-cphoto / E+ / Getty Images
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Refrigerate: 3 hrs
Total: 4 hrs
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
496 Calories
11g Fat
87g Carbs
13g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 496
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 81mg 27%
Sodium 146mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 87g 32%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Protein 13g
Calcium 340mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If you enjoyed 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
  • 1 to 2 cups water (amount needed to cover rice)
  • 4 3/4 cups and 3 tablespoons whole​ milk (divided)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 egg yolk beaten

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C.

  2. In a colander, rinse the rice until the water runs clear.

  3. In a large saucepan, add the rice and enough water to cover it by about 1/2 inch.

  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Let the rice simmer gently until it's softened, about 5 minutes.

  5. 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.

  6. In a small bowl, use a whisk to mix 1 cup of milk and the cornstarch until smooth.

  7. While stirring, gradually pour the milk-cornstarch mixture into the rice.

  8. Turn up the heat and continue stirring the pudding until scalding.

  9. When the pudding thickens, continue to stir and cook for about 2 minutes more.

  10. Remove from the heat and fill small, ovenproof dessert cups, clay cups, or disposable aluminum pudding cups with the hot mixture.

  11. In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk with the remaining 3 tablespoons of milk.

  12. Using a spoon, drizzle a small amount of the egg-milk mixture into the center of each dessert cup.

  13. 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.

  14. Bake the pudding cups until the tops are nicely browned, about 20 minutes.

  15. Let the cups cool at room temperature and then refrigerate for several hours before serving. Enjoy.

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