Warm Rice Pudding With Seasonal Fruit

Ingredients

• 1 quart milk
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 slices lemon peel
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 3/4 cup arborio rice
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 4 cups seasonal fresh fruit, sliced as needed (mixed fruit)
• superfine sugar (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   In a wide pan or straight-sided skillet, combine the milk, sugar, lemon peel, vanilla bean and 1/2 C water.

2. 2

   Bring to a simmer over moderate heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

3. 3

   Add the rice and simmer gently until the grains are tender and the milk is slightly thickened, 15-20 minutes.

4. 4

   Beat the yolks with the lemon juice until well blended.

5. 5

   Whisk in about 1 cup of the hot rice to warm the eggs, then pour the egg mixture into the rice.

6. 6

   Cook briefly, stirring constantly, until the pudding visibly thickens, about 1 minute, then remove from the heat.

7. 7

   Remove the lemon peel and vanilla bean.

8. 8

   Let the rice pudding cool until it is just warm; it will thicken as it cools.

9. 9

   If the fruit needs a little sweetening, add superfine sugar to taste and divide among eight plates or balloon wine glasses.

10. 10

    Spoon the warm rice pudding over the fruit, or alternating layers of fruit and warm pudding in parfait glasses.