Creamy Millet Pudding with Pistachios & Rum Soaked Raisins

My husband and I used to go to a little French restaurant in Santa Monica called Aestus for frequent low-key date nights. We would sit at the bar and split a bottle of wine, a cheeseboard and for dessert we would always order their millet pudding. But even though Aestus is closed, I still think about their millet pudding – the creamy, chilled mixture was not overly sweet and came topped with pistachios and rum-soaked raisins. It’s like a creamy twist on rice pudding.

Creamy Millet Pudding with Pistachios & Rum Soaked Raisins

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

• Millet – Millet is a seed from Africa and Northern China. This naturally gluten-free ancient grain has a mild corn flavor. It’s cooked to the consistency of oatmeal then once it’s cooled it’s folded with a rich whipped cream.
• Heavy cream – I add heavy cream, the thick part of the milk that rises to the top due to its high fat content to the grains to create a twist on classic rice pudding.
• Pistachios – Pistachios are actually the seed of a plant belonging to the cashew family rather than a nut. They come in shells which are easily peeled away to reveal mild, slightly soft and sweet meat.

How to Make Creamy Millet Pudding

1. Toast the millet. In a medium saucepan over medium heat add the millet and toast it, stirring frequently until the grains begin to pop, about 3 minutes.
2. Make the pudding. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla, cardamom and salt and bring to a simmer then lower heat to medium-low and continue to simmer until thick and creamy, about the consistency of oatmeal, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from heat, place in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.
3. Soak the raisins in rum. Add the golden raisins and rum to a small bowl and let sit for about 1 hour. Drain the rum and set aside the raisins until ready to use.
4. Fold in heavy cream and chill. Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form then fold the millet pudding into the whipped cream. Divide into ramekins or small bowls using a spoon or ladle and refrigerate until chilled through, at least an hour and up to overnight.
5. Assemble and serve. Serve topped with honey, rum soaked raisins, pistachios and rose petals (if using).

Other Recipes to Try

If you enjoy this recipe, I recommend checking out some of these:

• Crispy Persian Jeweled Rice Tahdig
• Cream Puffs
• Salted Butterscotch Pots de Creme

Creamy Millet Pudding with Pistachios & Rum Soaked Raisins

Print Pin

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• ½ cup whole grain millet
• 3 cups whole milk
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup rum
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ cup chopped pistachios, for serving
• 1 tablespoon crushed rose petals, optional

Instructions:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat add the millet and toast it, stirring frequently until the grains begin to pop, about 3 minutes.
• Add the milk, sugar, vanilla, cardamom and salt and bring to a simmer then lower heat to medium-low and continue to simmer until thick and creamy, about the consistency of oatmeal, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from heat, place in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.
• Add the golden raisins and rum to a small bowl and let sit for about 1 hour. Drain the rum and set aside the raisins until ready to use.
• Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form then fold the millet pudding into the whipped cream. Divide into ramekins or small bowls using a spoon or ladle and refrigerate until chilled through, at least an hour and up to overnight.
• Serve topped with honey, rum soaked raisins, pistachios and rose petals (if using).

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