Simply Lebanese

Meghli

Meghli
  • Prep Time
    5 mins
  • Cook Time
    25 mins
  • Serving
    4
  • Ready In
    30 mins
A Lebanese rice pudding spiced with cinnamon and caraway, Meghli is a delicious celebratory dessert served after the birth of a new baby and during Christmas.
Meghli

Meghli, a cinnamon-spiced rice pudding is a traditional Lebanese dessert. This dessert is most popularly served to celebrate the birth of a new child in a family. When family and friends come over to see the new child, this pudding is served in individual bowls topped with a variety of nuts and shredded coconut. It is also served in Lebanon during Christmas.

I have been wanting to share this recipe for quite some time, but waited until the perfect occasion, the birth of my newest child. My sweet baby boy was born this week. Since I am going to be making this dessert quite often now, I stocked up on all the ingredients I needed to make it before I gave birth. This pudding is very easy to make and requires only a handful of ingredients. It is one of my favorite Lebanese desserts and is so delicious with a distinct taste due to the warm spices in it. My mother taught me to make it when she came to help out when my daughterย  was born about two and a half years ago.

The Ingredients

The ingredients for this pudding are rice flour, white granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground caraway and water. You also will need whatever toppings you choose to decorate it with such as shredded coconut, ground or chopped pistachios, almonds, pine nuts, and golden raisins. I am not a fan of raisins so most often, I donโ€™t have it on hand to top it with. The rice flour is sold at most supermarkets in the ethnic aisle (Goya brand) or in the baking aisle (Bobs Red mill brand.) It is just very finely ground rice. It thickens the pudding perfectly so no cornstarch is needed. This pudding comes together in under 30 minutes unless, you are doubling or even tripling the recipe then it needs up to an hour on low heat until the pudding is thickened to the perfect consistency. The recipe makes 4 servings, but is very easily doubled for more servings. I hope you guys test out this delicious dessert, and enjoy it as much as I do!

STEP 1

Begin by combining all the dry ingredients in a medium-sized deep pot.

Add the water (cold or room temperature) and whisk thoroughly.

STEP 2

Place the pot on the stove on medium-high heat and let come to a boil, about 5 minutes.
Make sure to whisk every now and then so the rice flour does not clump.

Once the pudding has started to boil, lower the heat to low and whisk consistently for an additional 15-20 minutes until the pudding has thickened to the perfect consistency.

STEP 3

Pour the hot pudding into 4 individual bowls.

Meghli

STEP 4

Top with about 1 teaspoon each of every type of nut and topping you choose to decorate with.

Meghli

STEP 5

Set aside to thicken and cool.
Let refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours before serving.

Meghli
Meghli

Meghli

A Lebanese rice pudding spiced with cinnamon and caraway, Meghli is a delicious celebratory dessert served after the birth of a new baby and during Christmas.
4.83 from 34 votes
Print Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Lebanese
Keyword: Meghli
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 240kcal
Author: Iman

Ingredients

  • ยฝ cup Rice Flour
  • ยพ cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 tb. Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tb. Caraway
  • 4 cups Water

Toppings (Optional)

  • Shredded Coconut
  • Crushed Pistachio
  • Pine Nuts
  • Sliced Almonds

Instructions

  • Begin by combining all the dry ingredients in a medium-sized deep pot.
    Add the water (cold or room temperature) and whisk thoroughly. 
  • Place the pot on the stove on medium-high heat and let come to a boil, about 5 minutes.
    Make sure to whisk every now and then so the rice flour does not clump. 
  • Once the pudding has started to boil, lower the heat to low and whisk consistently for an additional 15-20 minutes until the pudding has thickened to the perfect consistency. 
  • Pour the hot pudding into 4 individual bowls. 
  • Top with about 1 teaspoon each of every type of nut and topping you choose to decorate with. 
  • Set aside to thicken and cool.Let refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
    Iman

    Owner

    Additional Recipes!

    Recipe Reviews

    • Avatar

      Tony

      Iman. I love you !!
      Thank you for sharing this recipe.
      My Mum used to make this for us as children and I loved this dish.
      My Mum isn’t around anymore so I can’t get to eat her wonderful food anymore, especially all the tasty treats she used to make us.
      I will try and make some and see.
      It will take me back to my childhood for sure. Happiest memories.
      Thank you again.

      • Iman

        Iman

        Hi Tony! Thank you so much for your kind words. I hope when you try it, it tastes similar to your late mother’s!

    • Avatar

      Hana

      5 stars
      Tried it today, tasted amazing!

      • Iman

        Iman

        So glad you liked it!

    • Avatar

      Elizabeth

      I lived in Beirut for many years in college and had a lively social life there. Mostly with Palestinians. I had Meghli once in a while and loved it so much.. Now I am anxious to make it!!
      Sincerely,
      Elizabeth Woods
      Pasadena, CA

    • Avatar

      Ali

      Are the caloriee with the optional toppings?

      • Iman

        Iman

        Yes, choose whatever toppings you prefer or none at all!

    • Avatar

      Lena

      5 stars
      I loved this recipe. Reminded me of the Meghli I had as a child. It’s also very easy to make. I enjoyed making it when my sister had my niece. Thanks!

      • Iman

        Iman

        Thank you! It really is so tasty and easy to make.

        • Avatar

          Wendy

          5 stars
          This recipe brings back great memories from my childhood in Egypt!

          • Iman

            Iman

            Truly so good!

    4.83 from 34 votes (32 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Review

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating