Riz bi Haleeb — country by country
Rice pudding, chilled and perfumed — the dessert every teta keeps waiting in the fridge.
Every country brings its own touch. Here's how they differ.
⚔️ Head to head
Pick two kitchens and see exactly where they part ways.
🇱🇧 Lebanon
✨ Mastic and blossom water; ground rice keeps it silk-smooth.
Only in Lebanon
- short-grain rice
- orange blossom water
- mastic tears, ground
- pistachio to garnish
🇪🇬 Roz bel-laban
✨ Thicker, vanilla-scented, shop-style — served chilled with cinnamon or nuts, or hot with ice cream.
Only in Egypt
- Egyptian rice
- cornstarch
- vanilla
- cinnamon or nuts to serve
🤝 Both use
- milk
- sugar
🇱🇧 Lebanon
⏱ 35 minLebanese riz bi haleeb is scented with mastic and orange blossom, served cold in little bowls.
✨ What makes it special
Mastic and blossom water; ground rice keeps it silk-smooth.
🇪🇬 Egypt
⏱ 40 minKnown here as: Roz bel-laban
Cairo's roz bel-laban is street-shop famous, thicker, sometimes crowned with ice cream in summer.
✨ What makes it special
Thicker, vanilla-scented, shop-style — served chilled with cinnamon or nuts, or hot with ice cream.