Meghli (Lebanese Caraway Rice Pudding)
Meghli is a traditional Lebanese rice pudding made with rice flour and warmly spiced with caraway, cinnamon, and anise. Served chilled and topped with coconut and nuts, it’s a smooth, fragrant dessert often prepared to celebrate the birth of a child.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground caraway
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground anise (or star anise powder)
- 6 cups water
- Optional toppings: shredded coconut, chopped pistachios, almonds, walnuts
Instructions
- In a large pot, whisk together rice flour, sugar, caraway, cinnamon, and anise with water until smooth and fully dissolved.
- Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
- Reduce heat to low and continue stirring for 25–30 minutes, until thickened to a pudding-like consistency.
- Pour into individual serving dishes or a large serving dish.
- Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours until fully chilled.
- Top with shredded coconut and chopped nuts just before serving.
Notes
- Stir constantly to prevent the pudding from sticking or forming lumps.
- Adjust spice levels to taste—reduce anise if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Add toppings just before serving to maintain texture and freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
