Today I made coconut rice pudding. Sweet, warm, nutty, creamy and comforting – I couldn’t think of anything more soothing. It’s a perfect dish for tired adults, hungry babies and everyone in between. Warming in winter, or cooling in summer, it can be eaten any time of year and at any time of day as a whole meal, a snack or a dessert. It can be adapted for all situations.

I came to this recipe by accident once when I didn’t have enough milk, or had to save it for a baby or two, so substituted the milk with coconut milk, and then some kind of magic happened.

Rice pudding in itself is a kind of magic, even made the conventional way, because how can something so unbelievably delicious be made from the three most plain and simple ingredients (rice, milk and sugar)? It is eaten in different ways in most countries in the world, but as a child rice pudding to me meant little tiny desert bowls filled with the sweet cold solid goo dusted with a thick coating of cinnamon – the Greek way, made by my Greek father. One of those tiny bowls was never enough, but I never dared ask for another. Now I eat it with a spoon straight out of the pan, burning my tongue because I can’t wait long enough for it to cool down. I have come across people who say it must only be baked, not boiled, made with cream, not milk and all kinds of variations, but this is how I like it best.

150g pudding rice

1 x 400g tin coconut milk

350ml whole milk (add an extra splash if needed)

60-100g sugar, to taste (or half sugar and half stevia)

Mango chunks, to serve (optional)

Put a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice, coconut milk and milk and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer and turn down the heat, stirring frequently until the rice begins to soften and thicken. Add a little extra milk if the rice is still hard. Continue stirring frequently until the mixture is thick and the grains of rice are soft but still have some bite to them. Serve immediately with chunks of fresh mango, a sprinkle of cinnamon or a spoon of your favourite jam. Spoon that steaming warming gorgeousness into your mouth and sank into the sofa, just for a few minutes. I promise you will feel so much better for doing so.