Arroz con Leche (rice pudding), is my wife’s favorite dessert. I had never made it before, until our anniversary this year and honestly, it is not as complicated as it looks.
The best thing about this dessert is the combination of all three forms of milk. It reminds me of a tres leches which is one of my favorite desserts ever! One of the ingredients is sweetened condensed milk and it always reminds of me of my dad whenever I use it for any dessert. Growing up, he would make Pepsi con leche condesada (condensed milk). It probably does not sound appetizing but trust me when I say it is heaven in a cup and also very fattening. But as we all know nothing tasty is healthy for you so if you decide to try this little concoction try not to have too many!
Making arroz con leche is pretty easy. First, cook the rice in a medium pot until it is soft, and all the water is absorbed. This takes about 15 minutes. After, add the condensed, evaporated, and whole milk. Bring to a boil, and immediately lower the heat to a medium-low. It may be difficult to do, but I suggest whisking everything as frequently as possible, if not the whole time. This will prevent the pudding from sticking to the bottom of the pot and allows you to keep a close eye on it when it gets to the right consistency.
Ingredients
- ½ cup White Rice
- 1¾ cup Water
- 2 Lime or Lemon peels
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup Sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup Evaporated milk
- 2 cups Whole Milk
- Cinnamon to garnish
Instructions
- Place the water in a medium saucepan and add the lime/lemon peels and 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring the water to a boil. Meanwhile, measure your rice and wash it. Once the water is boiling, add the rice, bring to a boil, and then lower to a simmer. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes, until all the water is absorbed.
- Once all the water is absorbed, transfer the cooked rice with the cinnamon sticks and lime/lemon peels to a bigger pot. Add the condensed, evaporated, and whole milk. Bring to a boil, and immediately lower the heat, to a medium-low. Frequently (about every minute) whisk the mixture to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. You are going to notice that the mixture starts to become thicker in viscosity. Keep stirring until you obtain the right consistency. It is going to take about 18-20 minutes.
- Once done, remove from the heat, remove the lime/lemon peels and place in a bowl. Allow it to cool for about an hour putting it in the fridge. Unless you prefer to eat it warm, then do not put it in the fridge. Sprinkle cinnamon prior to serving and enjoy!
