Recipe: Pink Semolina Pudding

Edited by Shanya Rod

Image courtesy of Laura Dimadi

Semolina Pudding is a dessert made from ground durum wheat and can be found all over Europe. It also includes the simple ingredients of milk and sugar. This is not like American Pudding, which is smooth and gelatinous. It can better be compared to a sweet porridge or oatmeal. This is an excellent spring time treat because it is a sweet, light dessert that can be made with different types of grains and can be eaten with a variety of toppings. This can be a breakfast food or a dessert, depending on how it is garnished. Variants of this recipe are found all over the world. In Romania, for example, it is called “Griş cu lapte.” The following is this easy recipe.

Ingredients:

- 2 cups milk

- 1/3 cup semolina

- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar (can add more for a sweeter taste)

- Red food dye (optional)

- A couple drops of vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Mix the milk and the sugar in a pot over medium heat. Add a small amount of vanilla extract as well.

2. Add one or two drops of the red dye to give it that light pink spring time color. Other colors can be used as well for different occasions or moods. Because semolina pudding is naturally white, the colors all come out looking well.

3. Bring it to a boil, and then remove the pot off of the heat. Pay attention because once it boils it quickly rises over and can spill out onto the stove.

4. Mix in the semolina.

5. Put the pot back over the heat and stir.

6. Keep stirring until the pudding becomes thick, but still pourable. If it looks too thin, more semolina can be added, but make sure to mix out any clumps.

7. Pour the semolina pudding out into a bowl. It can be eaten warm or put in the fridge to cool. (If an aesthetic shape is desired, putting it in the mold and letting it cool in it will cause it to keep the shape.)

8. Add the toppings. Common toppings are: fresh fruits, jellies or preserves, honey, cinnamon, raisins, and nuts. It tastes good with almost anything!