Arroz Doce: The Classic Portuguese Rice Pudding Recipe (2024)

Written By Becky Gillespie

Arroz Doce: The Classic Portuguese Rice Pudding Recipe (1)

Arroz doce, a beloved Portuguese rice pudding, has a rich history dating back to the sixth century BC. Initially, records show rice boiled in milk with sugar. The dish’s origins trace back to when cane sugar from India reached the Middle East, where rice cultivation was already prevalent.

This dessert, often made with coconut milk in Asia, quickly gained popularity. By the thirteenth century, molasses was replaced with refined sugar in Europe, giving arroz doce its characteristic white color. The eighteenth century marked the moment when arroz doce gained prominence in European cookbooks.

Over time, arroz doce became a popular dessert in Portuguese households, especially during Christmas, Sunday lunches, weddings, and other festive occasions.

Arroz doce, or Portuguese rice pudding or sweet rice, is a staple dessert in Portugal, embodying the essence of warm and simple comfort food. But what exactly is arroz doce? It’s a creamy, sweet rice pudding, often infused with the subtle flavors of lemon and cinnamon.

Like many traditional Portuguese dishes, arroz doce is deeply rooted in the country’s culinary history, with variations found in every region. A common element across these variations is the use of simple ingredients like rice, milk, sugar, and eggs, turning them into a dish that’s both modest yet also luxurious.

Arroz Doce: The Classic Portuguese Rice Pudding Recipe (2)

6-8 Portions

Ingredients

  • 1 cup short-grain white rice
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • Lemon peel from one lemon
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 egg yolks, beaten
  • Ground cinnamon for garnish

Instructions

  1. Begin by rinsing the rice under cold water. In a large saucepan, combine the rice, 3 cups of milk, lemon peel, cinnamon stick, and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the mixture has thickened.
  2. Once the rice is cooked, add sugar and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, stirring continuously. The mixture should have a creamy consistency.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks. Gradually add a cup of the hot rice mixture to the yolks, stirring constantly to temper them. Then, slowly pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan, stirring continuously.
  4. Cook the mixture over low heat for a few more minutes until it thickens slightly. Be careful not to let it boil.
  5. Remove the lemon peel and cinnamon stick. Pour the arroz doce into a serving dish or individual bowls. Let it cool slightly, then sprinkle the top with ground cinnamon for garnish.
  6. Allow the arroz doce to cool down, then refrigerate it for a few hours before serving.

Resist the temptation to eat it all by yourself. You can also find arroz doce as one of the traditional Portuguese flavors offered at ice cream shops in tourist areas such as Sintra and Lagos. Keep your eyes open for it, but there is nothing like a freshly made arroz doce.

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Arroz Doce: The Classic Portuguese Rice Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of arroz doce? ›

Arroz doce, also known as rice pudding, originated in Asia thousands of years ago and is a firm-favourite sweet treat in many cultures around the world.

Should you rinse rice for rice pudding? ›

To Rinse or Not to Rinse Rice

While we've mentioned before that this dessert gets its perfectly creamy texture from the starch that is released when the grains are cooking, we do suggest a rinse for this recipe in order to wash off excess debris and added starch.

What is rice pudding called in America? ›

Arroz con leche (rice with milk) is the Spanish and American type of rice pudding.

What is traditional rice pudding made of? ›

Rice pudding is a creamy mixture of rice and milk that is cooked until it's thick and soft. It can be sweet or savory. This raisin-studded dessert rice pudding is thickened with an egg, sweetened with sugar, and enhanced with vanilla.

What is the meaning of Arroz Doce? ›

rice pudding. sobremesa de arroz-doce a dessert of rice pudding. (Translation of arroz-doce from the GLOBAL Portuguese–English Dictionary © 2018 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Why is rice pudding so good? ›

The sweet, rich and creamy mixture is downright delish. You've got to love that it's made from simple ingredients like rice, milk, sugar and eggs.

What is the best rice for rice pudding? ›

Rice - I've tried all sorts of rice types and uncooked medium grain is by far the best for rice pudding, followed by risotto rice. Risotto rice (arborio) - needs extra liquid, add 1 cup (250ml) water into the saucepan with milk, and cook for 1 hr 20 minutes.

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 help... 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 is my rice pudding rice 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.

Which country eats rice pudding? ›

Nearly every culture has a version of the comfort food, from kheer in India, to Swedish risgrynsgot and champorado, the chocolate sticky rice pudding that is a staple in the Philippines. While the exact ingredients change, the basic elements are universal: Rice – short, medium, or long grain; white, brown, or black.

What do Brits call American pudding? ›

American puddings are closer to what the Brits would call "custard." A British pudding is a dish, savory or sweet, that's cooked by being boiled or steamed in something: a dish, a piece of cloth, or even animal intestine.

What to serve with rice pudding? ›

Serve each bowl of rice pudding topped with the fruit and its juices and, if you like, with the butter or nut butter stirred in and topped with a few chopped nuts or dried fruit.

How to make Jamie Oliver's rice pudding? ›

Method. Put the rice, milk, 200ml of water, half the maple syrup or honey and the vanilla into a large pan. Give it a good stir, then place the pan on a very low heat. Cook gently for around 45 minutes, or until thick and creamy, stirring regularly.

How to thicken rice pudding? ›

Rice pudding thickens as it cools, but if you prefer it even thicker, whisk in a beaten egg as you heat the rice pudding mixture; continue cooking until the pudding thickens. To thicken rice pudding when it's already cooked and cooled, fold in some whipped cream.

What causes rice pudding to get watery? ›

Oven temperature is an important key to baking custards. If eggs are overheated by high temperatures over 325ºF, they curdle and get watery. Some people use a (messy and potentially dangerous) water bath to hold the baking dish of pudding.

What is the origin of arroz? ›

Borrowed from Andalusian Arabic الرَّوْز (ar-rawz), from Arabic أَرُزّ (ʔaruzz, “rice”), from Ancient Greek ὄρυζα (óruza, “rice”), of Iranian origin.

What is the history of rice pudding? ›

In the Oxford Companion to Food, Alan Davidson writes: Rice pudding is the descendant of earlier rice pottages, which date back to the time of the Romans, who however used such a dish only as a medicine to settle upset stomachs.

What is the history behind arroz con leche? ›

The arroz con leche (rice with milk) is one of the oldest desserts in Spain. It was originally brought as a dessert when the Muslims conquered the South of the Iberian Peninsula. Today it is found all over Latin America.

What is the history behind Arroz con Pollo? ›

However, some sources suggest that it originated in Spain during the Moorish rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Arroz con pollo was considered a one-pot meal, and its recipe traveled to the Spanish colonies in Latin America and the Caribbean, where it was adapted and influenced by local ingredients and cooking techniques.

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