Drunken Figs

My mother sent me a recipe a few days ago for a 'runners breakfast pudding' that I knew I just had to try. I'm always looking for new foods on which to carbo load before a long workout, as I have long grown tired of oatmeal.

My mom found this recipe for Soy Milk Arborio Rice Pudding with Poached Figs in Food and Wine. It is quite good.

I used regular non-fat milk, as I didn't have any soy milk in the house and it worked just fine. As someone with a bit (OK, not a bit, a HUGE) sweet tooth, I recommend adding a tablespoon or two of sugar to the rice pudding right at the end to sweeten it up a bit. (Note that this may not be necessary if using soy milk, or if you are not a sugar fiend like me.)

SOY MILK ARBORIO RICE PUDDING WITH POACHED FIGS (Serves 4)

Ingredients

FIGS
1/4 cup ruby port
2 tablespoons sugar
Four 3-inch-long strips of orange zest
5 cloves
1 bay leaf
8 fresh figs, stemmed

PUDDING
Pinch of salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup arborio rice
2 cups plain soy milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Poach the figs: In a medium nonstick skillet, combine the port with the sugar, orange zest, cloves, bay leaf and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. When the sugar dissolves, add the figs, stem ends up, and simmer over low heat until the figs are almost completely tender, about 20 minutes. Add 1/4 cup more water as needed if the liquid gets too syrupy. Discard the orange zest, cloves and bay leaf.

2. Meanwhile, make the pudding: In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil with the salt. Add the rice and cook over low heat, stirring often, until most of the water has been absorbed, about 12 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup of the soy milk and cook, stirring, until it is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Continue adding the soy milk 1/3 cup at a time and stirring constantly until it is absorbed between additions; after the soy milk is absorbed, the rice should be creamy and tender. Stir in the honey and vanilla.

3. Spoon the rice pudding into bowls. Top with the figs and some of the poaching syrup and serve right away.

Make Ahead: The poached figs can be refrigerated in their syrup overnight. Reheat gently, adding a bit more water as needed. The rice pudding can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat gently, adding more soy milk as needed.

Notes: One Serving 337 cal, 3 gm fat, 0.6 gm sat fat, 69 gm carb, 5 gm fiber.