Riz bi Haleeb (Lebanese Rice Pudding)

Riz bi haleeb — rice with milk — is the Lebanese dessert that asks for almost nothing and gives back everything. Short-grain rice simmers slowly in milk and sugar until it turns thick and creamy, then it is scented with orange blossom water and chilled until set. It is equally at home on iftar tables and at children’s birthdays.

Silky, floral, and spoonful-of-comfort simple

The texture is the point: soft grains suspended in a custard-smooth pudding that coats the spoon without being heavy. Orange blossom water gives it a delicate perfume that feels both exotic and like home, and a crown of crushed pistachios adds color and crunch. A spoonful of rose water can stand in for the orange blossom in a pinch. Serve it chilled in little glasses, dusted with cinnamon, the way Lebanese cafes do — it is the dessert you will crave at the end of every meal. Chilled until softly set, it is the kind of quiet dessert that soothes a busy day.

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