Chai tea like in flavour, which means sweet. Definitely a dessert.
Recipe: Rice Pudding
From: my modifications to the www.epicurious.com
recipeServes: 6
5 cups whole milk
1 cup medium-grain white rice
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
10-20 cardamom seed pods (how sweet do you want it?)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Stir milk, rice, sugar, and salt in heavy large saucepan over high heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Once it's simmering, break the seed pods open with your nail over the mixture. If you drop a husk in, don't worry, they float. Gently simmer uncovered, stirring frequently. After 35 minutes, add the raisins and spices. Total cooking time is about 45 minutes. Pudding will be thick, the rice tender. Great warm or cold.