You could say I’m on a bit of a mango kick lately. And coconut. Oh, and rice. So when I was dreaming up something I could bring to the online blog party that is Fiesta Friday, hosted by the lovely Angie over at The Novice Gardener, this is what came to mind. It’s a bowl of tropical sunshine and comfort to get you through another February weekend, with or without a valentine. My inspiration came from (wait for it…) Yotam Ottolenghi (I know! I have to stop stalking him, I really do…) and his Cinnamon Rice Pudding with Cherry Compote and Pistachios, but I did it minus the cinnamon, the cherry compote, and the pistachios! But I have rice, and it’s kind of pudding-like, so there you go. It’s a coconut-mango sticky rice with a touch of cardamom and a little sprinkle of nigella seeds, both of which add a subtle peppery flavor. It’s simple, delicious, and apparently makes you loopy. In celebration of both Valentines Day and Fiesta Friday, I’m sharing with you my favorite film picks for foodies and lovers. All of these show how powerfully food can stir memory, express love & passion, and make us feel more alive and connected in this world. I’m planning on re-visiting a few of these over the weekend with a warm bowl of cardamom-coconut-mango rice pudding in hand. Here goes:
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Films for Foodies & Lovers
- Like Water for Chocolate
- The Scent of Green Papaya
- Eat, Drink, Man, Woman
- Babette’s Feast
- Chocolat
- Ratatouille
- Eat, Pray, Love
- Under the Tuscan Sun
- Il Postino/The Postman
So, what are your favorites? Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Fiesta Friday!
Cardamom-Coconut Rice Pudding with Mangoes & Nigella Seeds
(Inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi’s Cinnamon Rice Pudding with Cherry Compote and Pistachios) Serves 2-3; it can easily be doubled
- 1 cup German milchreis or pudding rice
- 2 1/4 cups coconut milk, plus 1/4 cup or so more for serving
- 3 cardamom pods, seeds crushed & pods removed
- optional: 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
- 2 Tbs. sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1 mango, sliced into strips
- Nigella seeds for garnish. Note: if you don’t have nigella seeds or don’t care for their peppery bite, you could substitute ground pistachios or toasted flaked coconut.
Directions: In medium saucepan, combine rice, 2 1/4 cups coconut milk (or more for a softer consistency; I like mine with the grains mostly intact), the cardamom seeds, ginger, & sugar and bring to a boil. Cover and turn heat down to a simmer and continue to cook until rice is softened but not mushy, 22-25 minutes (watch and add more liquid if necessary). Remove from heat and let sit for a couple minutes. Stir gently, then add a pinch of salt and some more warmed coconut milk to taste and give it a final good stir. Spoon into bowls, add mango slices around the sides, and sprinkle with nigella seeds. Enjoy!
The Seasoned Traveler 
February 14, 2014 at 3:44 pm
beautiful photo, I understand your obsession with Ottolenghi 🙂 – recipe looks delightful too!
February 14, 2014 at 10:09 pm
Thanks, so happy you stopped by!
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February 14, 2014 at 4:23 pm
Wow this looks fabulous! And it features several of my favourite ingredients. I look forward to trying this!
February 14, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Me too, I love all the ingredients here. Thanks for visiting 🙂
February 14, 2014 at 4:53 pm
One bite of this looks like I could be transported to the tropics! Looks [and sounds] delicious 🙂
February 14, 2014 at 10:11 pm
That was what I was aiming for – transporting us to the tropics! Thanks so much.
February 14, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Oh lovely lovely pudding. Happy Valentines Day. I have seen all the movies except the Green Papaya, great movie pics and a wonderful dessert.
February 14, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Thanks, and Happy Valentines Day to you too! Nice to see we have similar movie tastes! Green Papaya is the one I can’t remember much about, I just remember loving it – so I’m going to have to see it again soon.
February 14, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Great list of movies, here – I love them all. Your recipe looks fabulous, especially with the coconut milk, cardamom and lovely fruit. I have never eaten a Nigella seed; at first, I thought that they were sesame seeds… OOPS!
February 14, 2014 at 10:16 pm
Hi, Shanna! Do try them, I really like nigella seeds, they’re almost a cross between cardamom and pepper to me. So you like all these movies too? Any others you’d recommend? Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 14, 2014 at 10:59 pm
I just saw Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen flick) – and the new James Gandolfini movie (which I can’t remember the name of… oops!). Both were great and perfect for V day, especially the latter. Really loving your recipes and movie recommendations. 🙂
February 14, 2014 at 5:31 pm
Who is this Ottolenghi person you’re talking about? Lol…if you click on that picture of stuffed courgette flowers on my sidebar, you’ll hear me raving about him. And don’t get me started on Like Water for Chocolate. Bought quails b/c of it. Will cook later today. Thanks for sharing this with Fiesta Friday, Laura! XOXO
February 14, 2014 at 5:37 pm
As in *Quails and Rose Petals*? Holy moly, you are up for a passionate night ahead of you. I have no doubt you will cook up something delightful. Just look out for strangers on horseback. I will check out your Ottolenghi ravings, glad you share the admiration for him. And I’m looking forward to chatting and mingling at Fiesta Friday – in a little bit. Thanks for hosting and as always providing some fun & inspiration! Happy Valentine’s Day! xoxo
February 14, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Lovely pudding ..Happy valentine’s day 🙂
February 14, 2014 at 10:16 pm
Thanks, and to you too!
February 14, 2014 at 5:36 pm
I love this pudding! And the best movie for me is Babette’s Feast.
February 14, 2014 at 10:18 pm
Yes, I love that one, and just re-watched it a couple weeks ago. It’s the kind of movie that stays with you, isn’t it? I kept thinking about what that final dinner meant to Babette and to everyone at the table. But especially Babette. It’s a beautiful gesture and a beautiful movie.
February 14, 2014 at 7:16 pm
What a beautiful rice pudding idea, very fancy.
February 14, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Oh, it’s not so fancy! Very simple! Thanks so much for stopping by.
February 14, 2014 at 8:21 pm
Looks heavenly!
February 14, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Thanks!
February 14, 2014 at 10:39 pm
-:)
February 14, 2014 at 8:22 pm
This sounds wonderful!
February 14, 2014 at 10:20 pm
Thanks; it’s simple but some of my favorite ingredients all together.
February 14, 2014 at 8:53 pm
Hi Laura, this is such a beautiful pudding, and with my favorite flavors–mango and ginger. I, too, love Ottolenghi. I mean, what’s not to love? I really enjoyed Ratatouille and Like Water For Chocolate. I also watch a really silly movie around this time every year, Serendipity, because I heart John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale in the early years. 🙂
February 14, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Oh, I know that movie too – very sweet! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting, I too love these flavors. Yeah, Ottolenghi has really inspired me to approach cooking differently; he’s brilliant!
February 14, 2014 at 11:24 pm
What a great recipe and stunning photographs! I too love mangoes and coconut, so this recipe is right up my alley. You know, I am having family over for dinner tomorrow…I think I will make this for dessert! Thanks!
February 15, 2014 at 4:37 am
OMG I love all of those movies and I love Ottelenghi. This is my kind of post. I am totally making this. I love rice, cardamom and mango. Well done!
February 15, 2014 at 5:06 am
Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Fiesta Friday! Angie sure has all of us involved, and I love it.
Laura, you come up with most special, one of kind recipe presentations which intrigue me very much. Whatever kick you are in, you make me happy!
February 15, 2014 at 8:09 am
I think we need an ‘I love Ottolenghi’ badge for our blogs!!!! Lovely recipe and post xx
February 15, 2014 at 5:19 pm
What a great combination – mango, coconut,cardamom and rice! In Kerala cuisine (south indian) we make a similar pudding with coconut, rice and cardamom. But the addition of mangoes here takes it up another level! Lovely! 🙂
February 15, 2014 at 7:25 pm
Lovely recipe. It reminds me of thai sticky rice with mangoes. Is this also the same? Is it thai?
Btw great list of movies. I have not seen some of them though. Noted down the names of those, will ask my husband to get it for me. 🙂
February 16, 2014 at 6:12 am
Superb recipe and my best movies are “Chocolat” and “The scent of Green Papaya” :)))
February 16, 2014 at 8:19 am
Tropical sunshine…there’s nothing like it. Your sticky rice with mangoes looks delish!
February 16, 2014 at 4:01 pm
I love your combination of flavors in this pudding – the mangoes make it even more appealing. I enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun. I have not seen any of the others… 🙂
February 16, 2014 at 7:02 pm
The photos look really yummy but I just can’t do sweet rice, it’s the texture with sweetness I’m not fond of…I’d eat all the mango though!
February 19, 2014 at 4:17 am
I LOVE mango and coconut rice together. so delicious!
February 19, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Oh, I know that I would just love this! Coconut, love! Rice pudding is my fave winter comfort food. And I absolutely LOVE cardamom! This has my name written all over it! And I also love all the movies you mentioned.
February 19, 2014 at 7:59 pm
I love Ratatouille!! And mangoes! Great post bringing these together! 😀
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April 18, 2014 at 8:30 am
This is Perfect for all my exotic sugar cravings… Looks yummy