Arroz con Leche (Costa Rican Rice Pudding)
Local name: Arroz con leche
In short: Creamy rice pudding simmered with whole milk, cinnamon, vanilla and raisins, served warm or chilled and dusted with cinnamon. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 400 kcal
Arroz con leche is a comfort dessert that Costa Rican families make at home from pantry staples: rice, milk, sugar and cinnamon. The rice simmers slowly in milk until the grains are soft and the pudding turns creamy, with raisins stirred in near the end. It is eaten warm on cool days and chilled on hot ones, with a dusting of ground cinnamon. Stirring often is the only trick, because the milk can scorch.
Instructions
- Put the rice, water and cinnamon stick in a heavy pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 12 minutes, until the water is absorbed.
- Add the milk and salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring often, until the rice is very soft and the mixture thickens.
- Stir in the condensed milk, sugar and raisins and cook for 8 to 10 minutes more, stirring. It should look slightly loose, because it thickens as it cools.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and stir in the vanilla.
- Serve warm, or chill for 3 hours, dusted with ground cinnamon.
Tips
- Loosen chilled pudding with a splash of milk before serving, because it thickens a lot in the fridge.
- Short-grain rice gives the creamiest result. For a coconut version, replace half of the milk with coconut milk.
Questions and answers
Can I make arroz con leche ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps for up to 4 days in the fridge, covered. Stir in a splash of milk to loosen it before serving.
Can I make arroz con leche dairy-free?
Yes. Use coconut milk or an oat drink in place of the milk and a little extra sugar in place of the condensed milk. The texture is slightly different.
Why does arroz con leche stick to the pot?
The milk sugars scorch easily. Use a heavy pot, keep the heat low and stir often, scraping the bottom.
How long does it take to make Arroz con Leche (Costa Rican Rice Pudding)?
About 1 h in total: 10 min of preparation and 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Arroz con Leche (Costa Rican Rice Pudding)?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 11 g of protein, 69 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 220 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
