Arroz con leche is commonly known as rice pudding with milk. It’s basically a combination of milk, rice, cinnamon, and sugar. There are a lot of different versions of the recipe online since it has been modified and adjusted by many individuals over the years. The ingredients may also vary depending on where the dish is made. Moreover, the dessert can be served either hot or cold.
You can easily make this at home by referring to the recipe below. Keep in mind that you need patience as you’ll be dealing with a slow cooking process. You also have to be fully equipped with the right kitchen essentials. Who knows, this might become your comfort food or favorite dessert once you’ve prepared and tried it for the first time.
What To Use
These are the ingredients for arroz con leche:
- Four cups of water
- Half a cup of long-grain rice (medium-grain rice is a little sticky, while short-grain rice is too sticky and starchy)
- A quarter cup of sugar
- Two large cinnamon sticks
- Two teaspoons of vanilla extract
- One cup of whole milk (as a substitute, you can use full-fat milk for the right texture and flavor, and you can also go for full-fat coconut milk, but it’ll have a different flavor)
- A can of evaporated milk
- Cinnamon powder to garnish
What To Do
You can either use an arroz con leche Spanish recipe you already have or follow these steps:
1. Cook The Rice
Bring a saucepan or cooking pot to medium heat, and then add four cups of water. Break two cinnamon sticks before adding them to the saucepan. Put the lid on. Let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
Wash your rice to get the starch out; rinse it well until the water is clear. Take the lid off the saucepan so you can add your rice. Add a teaspoon of salt. Put the lid back on, and let it simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes.
Stir the rice every five to 10 minutes to avoid it from sticking to the saucepan. Adjust the heat if needed to prevent the rice from burning.
2. Add The Milk
While waiting for the rice to cook, put two cups of whole milk on a separate saucepan and add a can of evaporated milk to it. Let it simmer, and put the heat on low. Adding warm milk to the rice will reduce the cooking time because the two components will mix faster that way.
Check the rice and taste it; if the texture is crunchy, give it more time to cook. Once the rice is cooked, take off the lid and add a quarter cup of sugar. You can use more, a tablespoon of sugar at a time. Adjust it to your preferred sweetness.
Turn off the heat for the other saucepan with the milk in it. Add the milk to the saucepan with the rice. Let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more until it thickens and sets. Should you want a thicker consistency, use three cups of water instead of four.
3. Optional: Add More Flavor
You can skip this step, but if it’s to your liking, you can add half a cup of raisins to the rice. Take note that some people might not like the flavor and texture of raisins, so consider for whom you’re preparing the dish. Let the raisins soften and plump up. If you want to have more of the cinnamon flavor, add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
4. Prepare It For Serving
If you’re satisfied with the rice’s consistency, turn off the stove and add the two teaspoons of vanilla extract. Let the rice rest for a few minutes. Afterward, you can start plating.
Scoop the arroz con leche out of the saucepan and into a cup or mug. This recipe should give you six servings. This is where you can let out your talent in plating. You can add a bit of cinnamon powder on top and place cinnamon sticks on the saucer right beside the cup’s handle. And with that, all that’s left for you to do is dig in.
But if you prefer it cold, you can put the arroz con leche in a container and store it in the fridge overnight. You can eat it the following day and serve and garnish it the same way. Additionally, you can store it in the fridge for three days in case you still have leftovers.
Conclusion
The recipe above is simple and easy for anyone to make. Depending on your preference, you can tweak it, adjust the ratio, or change up some of the ingredients. It could take you at least 30 minutes to finish cooking the dish, but it’s worth it as you and your family can enjoy this gastronomic delight any day of the year.
