Make Ahead

Bhutanese Red Rice and AppleĀ Compote

March 19, 2011
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

The grain challenge inspired me to finally break out the red rice I'd purchased and hadn't yet cooked. Once I tasted the rice, although I can think of many uses, I decided to go with it's slightly sweet flavor. I really wasn't sure what to call this; it's not a true compote, nor is it actually apple sauce. I almost went with pudding, but the consistency just wasn't pudding-like enough for me to use that name. Whatever it is, we found it tasty hot out of the pot topped with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, as well as cold. I also enjoyed it for breakfast with some Greek yogurt. —healthierkitchen

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Ingredients
  • 1 pound apples (about 2 medium to large), peeled and diced
  • 5 tablespoons water, divided
  • 1/3 cup natural cane sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 tablespoons golden raisins
  • 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
  • heaping 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
  • 1 cup cooked Bhutanese red rice
  • 1/3 cup milk
Directions
  1. Place apple, sugar, 3 tablespoons water and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until apples soften, about 20 minutes.
  2. Remove cinnamon stick and add raisins, cranberries, five spice powder and 2 more tablespoons water and let simmer for about 5 more minutes.
  3. Smush some of the apple chunks with back of spoon and mix well.
  4. Add in the rice and milk and mix over low flame for a few minutes, gently crushing some more of the apple chunks.
  5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream or refrigerate and serve cold.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

8 Reviews

LeBec F. March 3, 2016
what a cool recipe! if you omitted the milk and rice and cooked down the fruits with red wine, it would be a great filo or pastry filling! and if you added the fruit mixture to sticky rice, that would be a treat too! so much flexibility!
dymnyno October 7, 2013
In Bhutan this would be served with hot, hot chilies and cheese (tangy). Definitely an acquired taste)
healthierkitchen December 10, 2013
the rice is just called Bhutanese red rice! I don't know anything about Bhutanese cooking!
dymnyno December 26, 2013
The national dish of Bhutan is red rice and cheese with chilies...very spicey.
Ribbonwrappers September 19, 2011
Is this considered a dessert?
healthierkitchen September 19, 2011
I am not a big sweets eater, so for me this is a dessert, topped with a little yogurt, cream or ice cream. That said, I also enjoyed it for breakfast with Greek yogurt. It can go either way.
Fairmount_market March 20, 2011
This looks delicious. How much rice do you use?
healthierkitchen March 20, 2011
Wow! What a brain freeze. Sorry about that - 1 cup already cooked rice. I will fix the recipe immediately!