Add 1 cup of rice, the vanilla beans and the pod, 2 tbsp of sugar, 4 cups of milk, and ⅛ tsp of salt to a small pot.
Put the pot on the stovetop on low heat and put it to a simmer.
Let the milk simmer for about 20 minutes until the pudding is creamy and the rice soft.
Take out the vanilla pods.
Transfer the rice pudding out of the pot and into small bowls.
Add a bit of milk and your chosen topping before you serve the rice pudding.
Notes
Avoid the rice to stick to the bottom of the pot by stirring regularly.
If the rice pudding is too thick, add a few tablespoons of milk.
Is this creamy rice pudding too thin? Cook it a bit longer.
Do mind, if the rice pudding cools down it will thicken a lot so it may look like your rice pudding is too runny when still piping hot, but it might be perfect when cooled down.
Cook the rice pudding for about 20 minutes. Does your pudding look creamy and the rice soft? Taste a grain of rice, if it is as soft as you'd like, the creamy rice pudding is done.