Latin Flair – Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)
Warm, spicy, inviting, creamy, delicious – all the wonderful things rice pudding should be. And to think that rice pudding is just a little rice boiled up in milk, cream, sugar and cinnamon. No special ingredients or techniques required (although cream is always special in my eyes) and perfect for this time of year.
My mom avoids turning on the oven like the plague. So rice pudding was one of the few homemade desserts my sisters and I had growing up. It is one of my mom’s specialties; so much so that she never measures anything while making it. Once I figure out her convoluted measuring system, I will bring you all her recipe. In the meantime, here’s one that comes really close.
While easy to make, rice pudding does require a bit of stirring to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. You will thank the heavens once it’s done. The cinnamon and condensed milk give it a distinctly Latino flavor. And the creamy and tender texture is what dreams are made of.
Arroz con Leche
Ingredients:
1 cup long grain white rice
4 cinnamon sticks
1 cup heavy cream
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
¼ cup granulated sugar
7 ounces (half can) sweetened condensed milkDirections:
In a medium bowl, whisk heavy cream, evaporated milk, sugar and condensed milk to combine and set aside.
In a medium sauce pan, bring rice, cinnamon sticks and 1 ½ cups of water to boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to cook, uncovered, until the water has almost completely evaporated, about 8 minutes.
Stir in the cream mixture and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, stirring very minute to keep the rice from sticking to the pan for 25-30 minutes until thick but still creamy.
Remove from the heat and discard the cinnamon sticks. Let the pudding rest for 10 minutes. Spoon into serving bowls and serve warm.
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Tracey — November 9, 2010 @ 9:35 am
Your photos are gorgeous Eliana! I so want to like rice pudding – I love all of the ingredients so why shouldn’t I like it? – but it’s just never been a favorite. I’ll have to try this one, maybe it’ll convince me
Stephanie — November 9, 2010 @ 11:13 am
Lovely. I remember hovering around the stove every time my mom made this. My favorite was when she mixed in cheese chunks. Delicious!
Barbara Bakes — November 9, 2010 @ 11:14 am
Rice pudding is one of my favorite comfort foods. Your looks so smooth and creamy.
naomi — November 9, 2010 @ 1:19 pm
I love rice pudding. It’s one of the simple classic dishes you can have anytime.
Nicole — November 9, 2010 @ 1:31 pm
OMG. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Your pictures are truly amazing! It looks so welcoming that I can almost smell it.
Every time I ask anyone here to teach me how to make it or give me the recipe for the delish arroz con leche, they look at me with a confused frown. It’s almost as if you’re supposed to KNOW how to make it simply because you’re latina. They do exactly as your mother does, not measuring. It’s all about instinct.
Allison — November 9, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
This looks lovely. A great dessert for a cold night.
I’ve started a new food blogging group that celebrates the printed cookbook. I’d love it if you joined us. The current theme is “warm and cozy.” http://www.cookbookloversunite.blogspot.com. It should be fun to share what we’ve made out of our cookbook stashes.
Thank you for a great post.
Jenna — November 9, 2010 @ 3:57 pm
Mmmm . . . rice pudding is a huge comfort food. Great pictures! Just to be sure, do you start with uncooked rice?
Amy (Sing For Your Supper) — November 9, 2010 @ 5:19 pm
I looooooooove rice pudding! These pictures are killing me!! What I wouldn’t give for a (BIG) bowl of this right now!!!
Biz — November 9, 2010 @ 5:51 pm
Holy cow, that looks delicious – rice pudding is one of my daughters favorite desserts and I just haven’t made any desserts in ages – thanks for reminding me Eliana!
Steel City Flan — November 9, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
Latinos are always putting condensed milk in everything – that’s what makes our desserts awesome
I happen to have a very soft spot for arroz con leche, and so does my dad. Last time I made it with a Penelope Casas recipe but this one looks delicious, I’m bookmarking it for this fall/winter.
5 Star Foodie — November 9, 2010 @ 8:49 pm
Oh, I’ve been meaning to make this and now I have your authentic recipe – excellent! It looks so wonderful!
Paris Pastry — November 10, 2010 @ 6:55 am
It looks delicious! My mother is the same; she rarely makes dessert except for rice pudding. Btw, I made your chocolate waffles today! They were amazing! But I did notice that the recipe didn’t say when to add the whole milk..
Blomma — November 10, 2010 @ 7:53 am
Love rice pudding (riz au lait in french), just made some a few days ago. It is a part of my childhood. Yours seems very creamy and delicious.
Katrina — November 10, 2010 @ 8:39 am
Yummy! I’m such a big fan of rice pudding. This looks overly fantastic.
Mary Ann — November 10, 2010 @ 10:33 am
I had never tried rice pudding until a couple years ago and what a thing to miss out on! It is so delicious. How lucky that you got to enjoy it as a child. This recipe looks fabulous.
Jeannette — November 10, 2010 @ 2:10 pm
I used to HATE the mere thought of rice pudding. But lately, for some reason I’ve been craving the warmth and coziness of it. I think I’ll start with this one
++MIRA++ — November 10, 2010 @ 4:56 pm
my husband LOVES rice pudding..maybe ill finally make it for him
Sara — November 10, 2010 @ 7:44 pm
Delicious! Love Rice Pudding!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum — November 10, 2010 @ 9:12 pm
I LOVE RICE PUDDING. And this looks deliciously creamy and wonderful. I’m inspired. I need to make some pronto!
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction — November 11, 2010 @ 7:21 am
I’ve been craving rice pudding lately… Which is kind of strange, since I’m not really much of a rice person. This looks perfectly delicious and comforting, though. Will have to give it a try!
Joanne — November 11, 2010 @ 8:32 am
Rice pudding is DEFINITELY one of my favorite desserts of all time. I had an aunt who made it every year and I would go back bowl after bowl after bowl. I need to try this version. Imminently.
Hungry Sofia — November 11, 2010 @ 9:45 am
I could have this everyday!
Baking is my Zen — November 11, 2010 @ 9:50 am
It looks creamy and delish!
Carmen
Velva — November 11, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Eliana, would you believe me if I told you that rice pudding is my all time weakness? It is! I hardly ever make it or buy it because I can’t stop eating it. God, this looks delicious.
Velva
Mariko — November 11, 2010 @ 1:44 pm
Condensed milk here is so smart. Velvety goodness.
Barbara — November 11, 2010 @ 1:54 pm
This looks creamy and dreamy, Eliana. Pure comfort food!
Islandia — November 11, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
kinda wish I liked rice pudding more but I’m good after only a bite or two. Can’t really eat anymore than that!
Kimberly — November 11, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
OK, I think I get it now — when I was married, my husband, who was from Mexico City, loved arroz con leche. It was a special treat for him — his Mom made a wonderful version of it — and he gravitated to it like I gravitate to ice cream, but I never understood why he so dearly loved it. Now seeing this recipe and your photos, I can understand the attraction. This recipe must be attempted!
Megan — November 11, 2010 @ 10:00 pm
I always crave rice pudding around this time of year but I have yet to make any. I love your photos, and this is definitely going on my list to make soon! Yum!
megan — November 12, 2010 @ 2:47 pm
Wow – I always thought I made a pretty good rice pudding, but this is miles ahead – sweetened condensed milk must take it to the stratosphere!
Michelle — November 12, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
Oooooh. I love rice pudding, but I never make it for some reason. I’m gonna get my hands on some cinnamon sticks and go to town. Thanks!
Jaime — November 12, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
I need to try rice pudding – I’ve never had it! yours looks so delicious
beth@thescreenporch — November 12, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
OMG this just put me over the top girl…Creamy warm YUM…B
Bren — November 12, 2010 @ 9:58 pm
you know i love me some arroz con leche…. cuando tengas tiempo mira el que tengo en el site mio… es una de esas cosas que me’cant hacer pero tompa un poco tiempo!
Bonnie — November 13, 2010 @ 7:32 am
Oh my goodness-how bad can this be? Well, not bad at all–it’s rice and milk(ish). It really goes sound delicious and the photo makes me want to take a bite. I know what you mean about a mother’s recipe. My mother didn’t own a cookbook. She did have a recipe drawer but mostly cooked from memory or to her taste–which was very good.
Have a great weekend.
Best,
Bonnie
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets — November 13, 2010 @ 12:39 pm
Your rice pudding looks creamy and delicious. Wish I could try a big bite
.
Lori — November 14, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
I had never had rice pudding until we moved to Brazil. I’m not sure why, it was just never part of our table growing up. Now, I absolutely love it. It is definitely one of my favorite desserts and yours looks amazing!
Jessica — November 14, 2010 @ 7:36 pm
Oh boy! I love Rice Pudding! One of my FAVORITE desserts ever! Your picture is beautiful, by the way!
ingrid — November 14, 2010 @ 9:48 pm
This was one of the few if only “sweets” my grandma made. Hers always contained raisins (EW!) which I picked out the moment her back was turned. Thanks for making yours sans rasins! LOL My grandma has since passed away and rice pudding hasn’t been eaten since. That’s a shame. I need to make this for my kiddos and tell them about eating it at my grandma’s kitchen table. Thanks for the nudge Eliana!
~ingrid
Sara — November 14, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
Inviting is right. I need to work with more rice pudding. A wholesome sweet.
Jennie — November 15, 2010 @ 10:10 pm
I love rice pudding, but sadly my girls don’t. Wait, that’s probably better for me! And stove top is the way to go, especially when those cravings hit mid-summer and NYC is unbearably hot.
val — November 16, 2010 @ 12:39 pm
This is pure comfort in a bowl.
the urban baker — November 18, 2010 @ 12:54 am
This looks so comforting and so satisfying! Can I use arborio rice for this recipe? I am going to make this this weekend and let you know how it turns out! Thanks so much for taking me back to my childhood!
Sandra G. — November 18, 2010 @ 5:27 pm
Love this one ! I also make Peruvian version, my husband is from Peru!
Jackie — November 23, 2010 @ 9:40 am
As good as this looks, its the only one latino dessert that I just don’t like!
But this does look good.