Arroz con Leche - How to Make Mexican Rice Pudding Recipe (2024)

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There are generational pieces of information that make their way down the lineage ofeveryfamily.

Recipes are perhaps one of theeasiest things to pass down from one generation to the next.

For me, it meant standing in the kitchen and observing my Abuelita as she cooked her Arroz Con Leche recipe.

Arroz con Leche - How to Make Mexican Rice Pudding Recipe (1)

Mexican Rice Pudding

Breakfast was the most engaging to watch because she would cook for my Abuelito, as well as my dad, and my uncle,as well as each one of us.

And breakfast also included leche.

I have no doubt that Abuelita, with all her wisdom that naturally comes with age, knew that she was giving us the very best start to our day.

With9 essential nutrients, including 8 grams of high-quality protein,in each 8 oz. glass of milk, she was serving up a gracious supply of protein.

Not to mention, with that many mouths to feed,milk is one of the most affordable ways to give kids nutritious protein at just .25¢ a glass.

Add some rice, water, and cinnamon to a pan, and you could have an inexpensive, warm panof Arroz con Leche (or Mexican rice pudding)to feed everyone.

You onlyhad to toast some bread and grab a glass of milk to complete your breakfast.

Funny thing? I never got tired of the deliciously sweet flavor of Arroz con Leche. Packed with protein, I (still) stay fuller longer when I eat it and can’t pass up the flavor.

Not to mention, the aromatic lingering of cinnamon and vanilla in the air always kept me coming back for more of the sweet rice Mexican pudding recipe.

Helping stir the rice mixture as it thickened becamemy morning task. Enjoying the savory rice and milk dish with my family was the reward.

Years after my Abuelita has passed, I still drift back to her small kitchen, watching her cook as I recall the smells and flavors of my childhood.

Her Arroz con Leche.

Arroz con Leche - How to Make Mexican Rice Pudding Recipe (2)

As an adult, I remember those nuggets of wisdom passed down to me through the art of cooking.

I want my children to live healthy lives and remind them of the benefits of milk, which include:

  • the body needs protein to be strong and healthy
  • protein at breakfast can help keep youfeel full and satisfied, so youwon’t feel hungry by mid-morning
  • an 8-ounce glass of milk is a delicious, easy, and affordable way to give your kids protein
  • regular white milk has noadded sugar— the sugar in milk comes from naturally occurring lactose

If you have a recipe that calls for both milk and sugar, try substituting foods such as ripe bananas, applesauce, spices, and mangos to sweeten your foods.

Looks like my Abuelita definitely knew what she was doing, even “way back when.”

FAQs

What is arroz en leche made of?

Arroz en leche is a traditional Spanish dessert made of rice cooked with milk, sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes lemon zest until creamy and thick, often flavored with vanilla or other spices.

What’s the difference between horchata and arroz con leche?

Horchata is a refreshing drink made from tiger nuts, rice, or melon seeds, while rice pudding (arroz con leche) is a creamy dessert made with cooked rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon.

Are you supposed to eat arroz con leche cold?

You may eat arroz con leche either warm or cold, as it is a personal preference and varies based on cultural practices, but, traditionally, it is served cold after being refrigerated for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld together.

Why is my arroz con leche dry?

Your arroz con leche might be dry due to overcooking the rice, using too little liquid, not stirring frequently during cooking, or allowing it to cool for too long before serving.

Arroz con Leche - How to Make Mexican Rice Pudding Recipe (3)

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Add some rice, water, and cinnamon to a pan, and you could have an inexpensive, warm pan of Arroz con Leche to feed everyone.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup long-grain rice
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3½ cups milk, warmed
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • Ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, bring water, rice and cinnamon stick to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat to simmer, cover pot and heat for 10-15 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is cooked.
  3. Add warmed milk to pot, cover and continue to simmer over low heat for another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Mixture should thicken as rice absorbs milk.
  5. Add vanilla and continue to simmer (uncovered) for an additional 3-5 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat and let cool before serving.
  7. Garnish with sprinkles of ground cinnamon, if desired.
  8. Serve warm or chilled. Enjoy!

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Arroz con Leche - How to Make Mexican Rice Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What rice is rice pudding made from? ›

Although this dish is most commonly made using long grain White Rice (some would even use Thai Jasmine Rice, many would argue that, to achieve a balance between consistency and flavor, aromatic Basmati Rice should be used as it contains starch.

Is Horchata the same as arroz con leche? ›

Is horchata and arroz con leche the same thing? No, it's not the same thing. Arroz con leche is made with the leftover rice that you used in making horchata. So if you don't want to throw the rice, you can use it in this way!

What does arroz con leche contain? ›

Arroz con leche is prepared all over Spain, with several small regional variations, but the basic ingredients are the same: rice, milk, sugar and lemon or orange peel. It is also possible to find this dessert in other Spanish speaking countries, such as Peru or Costa Rica.

What is arroz con leche made of? ›

Arroz con Leche, or Mexican rice pudding, will forever remind me of my family. It's a comforting, simple, and easy dessert made from a few ingredients, including long-grain white rice, sugar, milk, and cinnamon sticks. It can be served hot or cold, and is eaten year-round!

Why is the rice in my rice pudding still hard? ›

As a result, the rice in the pudding can become firm and hard when it cools down. It's a natural process that occurs with certain types of rice. To prevent this, you can try adding a bit more liquid or cream to the rice pudding before refrigerating it.

Is rice pudding good for your stomach? ›

When you're feeling nauseated it can be one of the best things to eat. It helps soothe your stomach, provides calories, and the sweetness can... With coconut and the sweet aromatic Indian spices, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and star anise, this Coconut Rice Pudding is comforting and tasty all at the same time.

Why does rice get hard in rice pudding? ›

It also ensures that the rice in the pudding will not get crunchy (retrograde) when refrigerated." Retrogradation, they explain, is the process in which cooked rice becomes hard again under refrigeration. It happens to rice that is high in the starch called amylose, such as U.S. long-grain rice.

Can you use normal rice instead of pudding rice? ›

Rice: You can use uncooked long-grain or short-grain white rice here, but not uncooked brown rice, which needs more cooking liquid than white. However, if you're starting with cooked rice, white or brown can be used. Jasmine rice has a beautiful floral flavor, and it's my rice pudding rice of choice.

How do you thicken rice pudding? ›

However, you can add, if, if your rice pudding di or vanilla pudding didn't thicken it is not only because of the kind of milk you used, you generally you need to use some kind of a starch, either arrow root or corn starch. I wouldn't use teca starch cuz that makes things a bit stretchy.

How long does rice pudding last in the fridge? ›

How long does the rice pudding last? On average, it lasts five to seven days. It is perishable, so for maximum freshness keep your rice pudding covered and refrigerated.

Is horchata Hispanic or Mexican? ›

While Mexican-style horchata is the most commonly known variety in the US, horchata actually originated in Spain, and there are various types of horchatas throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Horchata was born in the region of Valencia in Southern Spain.

What ethnicity is arroz con leche? ›

Arroz con leche is the Spanish version of Rice Pudding, but it is widely believed that this dish has origins in Moorish cuisine.

Why is my rice hard in arroz con leche? ›

If the problem is that the rice grains themselves are hard and crunchy, they did not have adequate time to cook — or it could be that you did not add enough liquid. Go ahead and add about a ½ cup of water (or milk). Stir thoroughly and let the pot simmer for as long as is needed.

What is arroz con dulce made of? ›

Arroz con Dulce - The Dessert Rice. Arroz con Dulce is a traditional Puerto Rican dessert that combines the delicious flavors of rice, coconut, cinammon, cloves and raisins. I would call this the Puerto Rican version of rice pudding. This is most commonly eaten during the Christmas season in Puerto Rico.

What is arroz con coco made of? ›

Aromatic, lightly sweet coconut rice pilaf made from toasting rice grains in rendered coconut oil and browned coconut solids.

What is Mexican rice water made of? ›

Horchata is a sweet Mexican drink made from rice. Horchata is made by blending white rice and cinnamon sticks in water and letting them soak overnight. After the rice and cinnamon are discarded, the remaining liquid is then flavored with vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon.

What is Indian rice pudding made of? ›

Kheer, Paal Payasam, Paramannam, Phirni, Payesh, Payasa are some of the different kinds of Indian Rice Puddings. All these have 2 ingredients in common – milk and rice, but vary in the ratios. The method of preparations, kind of rice and sweetener used is different which makes a difference to the end product.

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