Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding) Recipe

By
María del Mar Cuadra
A headshot of Maria del Mar Cuadra, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
María del Mar Cuadra
María del Mar Cuadra is a food stylist, recipe developer, and art director. She has written three cookbooks and worked for America's Test Kitchen.
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Updated August 30, 2018
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This arroz con leche is flavored with orange rind, cinnamon, and (optional but highly recommended!) dark rum; the scent is deep and sultry. You'll notice I've used dark brown sugar as well as granulated sugar in the recipe: the pudding's color will be golden rather than white, and the flavor more complex. At home I'd use dulce de rapadura or piloncillo (unrefined whole cane sugar)—do feel free to use either if they're available to you.

This rice pudding is best served warm as soon as it is made.

Recipe Details

Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding) Recipe

Active 60 mins
Total 60 mins
Serves 4 to 6 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water

  • 1 cup medium- or long-grain white rice

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • Three 3-inch pieces orange rind from 1 orange

  • 2 cinnamon sticks

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 3 1/2 cups milk

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup raisins

  • 1/4 cup rum (optional)

  • Ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions

  1. Bring water to boil over medium-high heat in medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in rice, 1 tablespoon butter, orange rind pieces, cinnamon sticks, and salt. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring from time to time, until most of the liquid is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes.

  2. Stir in milk, sugar, dark brown sugar, raisins, and optional rum. Increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to boil. Immediately reduce heat o medium-low and simmer, stirring from time to time, until rice is thickened and tender, about 35 to 45 minutes.

  3. Remove from heat. Remove and discard orange rind pieces and cinnamon sticks. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Serve warm and dust with cinnamon if desired.

Special equipment

Medium heavy-bottomed saucepan

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
200Calories
5gFat
34gCarbs
6gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories200
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g7%
Saturated Fat 3g17%
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 248mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 34g12%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 2mg8%
Calcium 204mg16%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 335mg7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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