Rijstevlaai


The history of "vlaai", or flat pies, is a long one. Initially discovered by the Germanic tribes, the story goes that the women would spread out any leftover dough from bread baking on a hot stone and drizzled fruit juice or honey over it to make themselves a little treat. Over the dough, mind you, not the stone. Over the years, the dough was spread thinner and the number of toppings became larger, and hey presto! they ended up with fruit pies. That's how the story goes. We weren't there so we can't really know whether it's true or not.......it doesn't really matter, does it? All that counts is that we have fabulous recipes for all kinds of pies!

The province of Limburg, gastronomically one of the more interesting areas of the country, is known for a large variety of culinary treasures, among which are its famous vlaaien, or pies. Limburg vlaaien are unique in their sort as they use yeast dough instead of a pie crust, and measure on average about 28 centimeters (approximately 11 inches) in diameter. Elaborate lattice works, almond shavings, or swirls of whipped cream are used to top off the pies that often hold fruit fillings or custardy creams. One of the most popular choices is a pie with a creamy milk rice filling, the rijstevlaai. Vlaaien are usually served on Sundays after lunch, at birthdays, burials, weddings, coffee tables, retirement parties, and when the local fair is in town. Any time there's a gathering of good people, really. And if there is no reason at all to celebrate, mourn, gather or depart, it's just a gezellig thing to do. A cup of coffee, a piece of vlaai, and your day's made!

Fortunately, they're easy to make and bake, and tend to be a favorite with many. Enjoy a slice of vlaai with a cup of coffee or tea, and pick out a variety you like. How about kersenvlaai , (cherry) or kruimelvlaai, a custard crumble? Sometimes a mocha vlaai, or one covered in fresh fruit may hit the spot. The yeast base is always the same, the filling changes.

Rijstevlaai
For the dough
1/3 cup milk and 2 Tbsp (100 ml), lukewarm
1 1/2 teaspoons (5 grams) active dry yeast
1 3/4 cup (250 gr) all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons (30 grams) sugar
1/2 teaspoon (4 grams) salt
1 egg
1/2 stick butter (55 gr), soft at room temperature

For the filling
3 1/2 cups (800 ml) whole milk
1/2 cup (100 grams) short-grain rice
1/3 cup (75 grams) regular sugar
Pinch of salt
2 eggs, divided
2 tablespoons regular sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla essence




Add the flour to a mixing bowl. Proof the yeast in the warm milk, then add to the flour. Mix in the sugar, the butter, and the beaten egg, and knead everything into a soft but solid dough. Cover and set aside to rise.

Wash the rice in cold water and rinse (you may have to do this up to three times until the water remains clear). Bring the milk and salt to a boil, add the rice and the sugar, and bring back up to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for half an hour, stirring frequently, until the rice is cooked and it resembles a thick porridge. Stir in the vanilla and set aside to cool. The rice will continue to absorb liquid and thicken. 

Mix the egg yolks with the two tablespoons of sugar until creamy, and beat the egg whites into stiff peaks. Mix the egg yolks with the cooled rice porridge and when it is well blended, fold in the stiff egg whites.

Butter an 11 inch (28 cm) pie dish or metal pan, with a 1 inch (2.5 cm) rim. Punch down the dough, roll it out, and line the pie pan with the dough. Dock it with a fork, poking holes all over the surface, cover, and let rise again.

Heat your oven up to 375F (190C). Spread the rice mix into the pie, level with a spoon or a spatula, and bake to golden brown in approximately 25 to 30 minutes. If the top browns too fast, cover with some aluminum foil. Cool the pie in the pan for about 30 minutes, then remove and continue to cool on a rack. The rice filling will set as it cools.

Serve when cold, and it's one of those pies that's even better the next day. Great served plain, or decorated with big dollops of sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings!


If, for whatever reason, you happen to have more mix than pie bottom, butter a small oven dish and pour the rest of the mix in there, sprinkle some cinnamon and brown sugar on top, and bake it with the pie in the same oven. You'll have a nice, sweet, and creamy rice custard treat while you wait for the pie to cool off. No need to let good things go to waste!

23 comments:

  1. When do you add the vanilla to the filling?

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  2. This is one of my favourites - I'm going to put this on my to-make-list. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Gevond!!! excellent! hop dat het lukt.

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  4. Much appreciated, that is exactly what I am looking for. Thank you for posting this recipe. I come from Vietnam, I tried Limburg vlaai with rice once and very surprised with its delicious taste. You know that Vietnam is a rice exporter and rice is one of our traditional dish and basic ingredient to make many kinds of food. But we never have such delicious taste recipe as this Limburge speciality. What amazing! Thank you once more.

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  5. Heerlijk! Ben blij je gevonden te hebben. Ga de stroopwafels absoluut uitproberen. Dank je wel.
    Groetjes uit Iowa.

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  6. Hey Nicole,

    Dit recept heb ik een tijd geleden eens geprobeerd en ik vond hem erg droog....heb daarna ook andere recepten bekeken (nog niet gemaakt) maar die recepten vragen veel meer eieren. Heb ik iets verkeerd gedaan? Ik weet dat dat lastig is om zo te zeggen maar misschien heb jij een idee wat er fout ging bij mij. Vast bedankt.
    Groetjes,
    Jacqi.

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    Replies
    1. Hallo! Het kan zijn dat de baktijd te lang is geweest voor je vlaai. Dat is vaak afhankelijk van soort oven (convectie ovens bijv.), bakvormen etc. Je zou kunnen proberen de vlaai iets korter te bakken, maar wel tot 160F interne temperatuur, of een tweede ei aan de vulling toevoegen. Je zou ook de rijst wat smeuiger kunnen maken door wat extra melk of room toe te voegen. Veel succes!

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  7. Can anyone tell me what vanilla essence is? Is it vanilla extract? Thank you

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    1. Hi Catalina, vanilla essence is not as strong as extract but either one will work fine. You can easily substitute one for the other, use the same amounts.

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  8. Ik ben onbekend met pearl rice, kan je ook een ander soort rijst gebruiken?
    Bedankt!

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    1. Marjolein, je kunt gewoon short grain of dessert rijst gebruiken. Succes!

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  9. Just wondering if this could be made with a ready made pie crust?

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    1. It most certainly can be made with a ready made pie crust.

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  10. My mother's favorite,thanks. I am going to make it for Easter dinner this year!

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  11. My mother's favorite too.I am going to try and make it for her birthday June 24th

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  12. De suiker is dubbel genoemd!!! Eerst in de melk dan later met het ei geel!! Wat is er niet goed???

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    1. De suiker wordt twee keer gebruikt in de vulling, eenmaal voor de melk, en andermaal voor het eigeel. De hoeveelheden zijn apart aangegeven, zodat men het recept gemakkelijk kan volgen.

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  13. I always buy rijsttaart when i take a trip to maastricht , this is probably one of the best pie. That kind of pie can also be found in belgium and especially belgian limburg and luik area. Love the Netherland :)

    Jon of Belgium

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  14. I made one today for my daughter Simone's birthday do you have to keep it in the fridge?

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  15. so glad I found this recipe. The rijstevlaai was heerlijk.

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  16. When I was visiting my daughter and grandson in Eindhoven Netherlands. I came across this delicious thing called rijstevlaai. OMG Rice Pie, genius. Now that I'm back in the states I long for it. Well also to see my daughter and grandson.

    Peace and happy holidays!

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  17. My grandmother was from Eijsden in Limburg. We have her rice vlaai recipe and make it on holidays. It brings back such great memories of my childhood.

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