Roz Bel Laban (Egyptian Rice Pudding)

Roz bel laban is Egypt’s rice pudding, a pot of short-grain rice simmered slowly in milk until the whole kitchen smells like vanilla and comfort. It is the dessert of childhoods, served warm in little bowls with a dusting of cinnamon, and every grandmother has her own way of stirring it. It is also a Ramadan staple, appearing on iftar tables across the country, and simple as it sounds, it is the dessert Egyptians ask for when they want something gentle and sweet.

Slow-simmered milk and rice, stirred with love

Cooked patiently, the rice breaks down and thickens the milk into a silky, spoonable cream with soft grains throughout. A hint of orange blossom water lifts it, and the cinnamon on top adds a warm finish. It thickens as it cools, so pull it off the stove while it still looks a little loose, then let it set. Served chilled or warm, it is pure, uncomplicated comfort, the kind of dessert that tastes like being tucked in.

Craving more? Explore all Egyptian Kitchen recipes.

Egyptian recipes →