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Traditional Arroz con Leche

Traditional Arroz con Leche

Silky Spanish Arroz con Leche — The Rice Pudding That Knows How to Take Its Time

This isn't your average rice pudding — it's a study in patience and technique that transforms humble rice into something luxurious. The secret lies in the slow, gentle cooking that coaxes each grain to release its starch, creating a naturally creamy texture without any eggs or cream.

SpanishDessertVegetarianGluten FreeComfort Food
Prep5 min
Cook45 min
Total50 min
Servings6
Difficultyeasy

Nutrition

fat6g
carbs52g
protein8g
calories285

Ingredients

  • 1 cupshort-grain white rice (Arborio or Bomba work beautifully)
  • 4 cupwhole milk
  • 1 cupwater
  • ½ cupgranulated sugar
  • 1 stickcinnamon stick (Ceylon if you can find it)
  • 1 striplemon peel strip (wide peeler works best)
  • ¼ tspsalt
  • ground cinnamon for dusting(optional)

Instructions

  1. Drop the rice, water, cinnamon stick, lemon peel, and salt into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. The heavy bottom is crucial here — it prevents hot spots that could scorch the rice and ruin the whole batch.
  2. Crank the heat to medium-high and bring everything to a rolling boil, then immediately dial it back to low for a gentle simmer. Leave it uncovered so the liquid can reduce properly — this initial cooking softens the rice and concentrates the flavors.
    ⏱ 10 min
  3. Pour in the milk and sugar, giving everything a thorough stir to dissolve the sugar completely. The mixture will look quite loose at this point, but trust the process — the rice will work its magic.
  4. Keep the heat at medium-low and stir frequently — every few minutes at first, then almost constantly toward the end. The rice gradually releases its starch, and you'll notice the mixture thickening and becoming glossy. When a spoon dragged across the bottom leaves a brief trail, you're there.
    ⏱ 30 min
  5. Fish out the cinnamon stick and lemon peel with a spoon or tongs. They've done their job infusing the pudding with subtle warmth and brightness.
  6. Serve immediately while warm for comfort food vibes, or chill it for a few hours if you prefer it cold and set. Either way, a light dusting of ground cinnamon on top adds the perfect finishing touch.