Bring milk to the boil in a pot. Remove from heat and stir in the rice pudding with a whisk. Add lemon zest and continue stirring for about 1 minute. Then let it swell for about 10 minutes. Roast the almonds in a pan without fat until golden brown.
Let it cool down a little bit and stir it into the rice pudding. Spread some oil on 3 ramekins (each containing approx. 150 ml), fill in the rice pudding and smooth it down. Cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes and let it get firm. In the meantime drain the cherries. Collect the juice. Mix starch and 2-3 tablespoons of juice. Bring the rest of the juice to the boil and thicken with the mixed starch. Bring to the boil again and fold in the cherries. Leave to cool.
Mix starch and 2-3 tablespoons of juice. Bring the rest of the juice to the boil and thicken with the mixed starch. Bring to the boil again and fold in the cherries. Leave to cool. Turn out the rice pudding on plates and serve with the cherry sauce. Sprinkle with strips of lemon peel and serve decorated with lemon balm