Rice pudding

What is rice pudding?

Rice pudding is a rice dish that is particularly common in Europe and Asia. There are many different recipes for rice pudding, but the basic ingredients are always round grain rice, milk and sugar. The rice is cooked in the milk over a low heat and stirred regularly.

This releases starch molecules from the rice and thickens the milk. The result is a creamy porridge with still recognizable grains of rice.

Rice pudding is usually eaten as a dessert or snack. It can be served warm or cold and can be refined with various toppings as desired. Typical toppings include cinnamon and sugar, apple sauce, red fruit jelly or fresh fruit.

Is rice pudding healthy for dogs?

Rice itself is a healthy food for dogs. It contains carbohydrates, protein, fiber and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and iron. It is easy to digest and is suitable for dogs with gastrointestinal problems or allergies.

Rice pudding can therefore also be a tasty change for dogs. However, there are a few things to bear in mind:

• Rice pudding should always be cooked with water instead of milk. Many dogs cannot tolerate lactose (milk sugar) and get diarrhea or flatulence.
• The rice pudding should be prepared without sugar. Sugar is unhealthy for dogs and can lead to obesity, tooth decay or diabetes.
• Rice pudding should only be given occasionally as a supplement to normal food. It should not be the main source of nutrition, as it can otherwise lead to malnutrition.
• Rice pudding should only be served with dog-friendly toppings.Although cinnamon isnot poisonous to dogs, it is not particularly nutritious either. Fruit should only be given in moderation as it contains a lot of fructose. Chocolate or raisins are taboo as they are poisonous for dogs.

How do you prepare rice pudding for dogs?

Preparing rice pudding for dogs is very simple:

• You need 150 g of round grain rice (e.g. Arborio), 750 ml of water and a pinch of salt.
• Bring the water and salt to the boil in a wide pan.
• Stir in the rice and bring to the boil briefly.
• Reduce the heat and leave the rice to soak for approx. 30 minutes with the lid on.
• Stir the rice from time to time.
• When the rice is ready (it should still have some bite), remove it from the heat.

The finished rice pudding can now be fed warm or cold. Depending on your dog's taste, you can mix some meat (e.g. beef heart), vegetables (e.g. carrots) or fruit (e.g. banana) into the rice pudding. However, you should make sure that the portions are not too large and that the dog drinks enough water.