Arroz con Dulce (Puerto Rican Sweet Coconut Rice Pudding)
Local name: Arroz con dulce
In short: Short-grain rice simmered in coconut milk with ginger, cinnamon, cloves and raisins until creamy, a sweet Puerto Rican Christmas rice pudding. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 380 kcal
Arroz con dulce is the sweet rice pudding Puerto Ricans make for Christmas and the weeks around it. Short-grain rice cooks first in water infused with ginger, cinnamon and cloves, then simmers slowly in coconut milk with raisins and brown sugar until creamy. It is served warm or cold, dusted with cinnamon, and it thickens as it stands, so keep a little coconut milk on hand to loosen leftovers.
Instructions
- Bring the water, ginger, cinnamon sticks and cloves to a boil in a heavy saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes, then strain, keeping the cinnamon sticks and discarding the ginger and cloves.
- Return the spiced water to the pan and add the rice. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed.
- Stir in the coconut milk, brown sugar, raisins, salt and the cinnamon sticks.
- Simmer gently, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom, until the rice is tender and the mixture is thick and creamy.
- Stir in the vanilla and remove the cinnamon sticks. The pudding will look slightly loose, but it thickens as it cools.
- Spoon into a shallow dish or small bowls, dust with cinnamon and sprinkle with toasted coconut. Serve warm, at room temperature or chilled.
Tips
- Short-grain rice gives the creamiest result. Long-grain rice works, but it stays more separate and needs a few extra minutes of cooking.
- Stir in a splash of coconut milk or water when reheating leftovers. The rice keeps absorbing liquid as it stands in the fridge.
Questions and answers
Can I make arroz con dulce ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps in the fridge for 4 days, covered, and many people think it tastes better the next day. Loosen it with a little coconut milk before serving.
Is arroz con dulce the same as rice pudding?
It is a close relative. Puerto Rican arroz con dulce uses coconut milk and spices such as ginger and cloves instead of dairy milk, and it has no eggs.
Can I use white sugar instead of brown?
Yes, in the same amount. Brown sugar gives a deeper, caramel taste that suits the spices, so use it if you have it.
How long does it take to make Arroz con Dulce (Puerto Rican Sweet Coconut Rice Pudding)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Arroz con Dulce (Puerto Rican Sweet Coconut Rice Pudding)?
About 380 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 380 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 105 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
