Arroz con Dulce (Puerto Rican Coconut and Ginger Rice Pudding)
Rice simmered in coconut milk and a spiced infusion of fresh ginger, cinnamon, cloves and star anise, sweetened with brown sugar and raisins and set in a dish. A Puerto Rican Christmas essential.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Make the spice infusion
Boil the water with the ginger, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise for 10 minutes, until the liquid turns fragrant and golden. Strain and keep the liquid; discard the solids.
- 750 ml water
- 5 cm piece ginger
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 8 cloves
- 2 star anise
✅ Done when: liquid is fragrant and golden
Cook the rice
Drain the soaked rice. In a large, heavy pot (at least 4 quarts/4 liters), bring the spice infusion, 400 ml of the coconut milk, and the salt to a boil. Add the rice and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, stirring often, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is almost tender.
- 300 g rice, drained
- 750 ml spice infusion from step 1
- 400 ml coconut milk
- ½ tsp salt
✅ Done when: most of the liquid is absorbed and rice is almost tender
Sweeten
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Set
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Serve
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Make the spice infusion
Boil the water with the ginger, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise for 10 minutes, until the liquid turns fragrant and golden. Strain and keep the liquid; discard the solids.
- 750 ml water
- 5 cm piece ginger
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 8 cloves
- 2 star anise
✅ Done when: liquid is fragrant and golden
Cook the rice
Drain the soaked rice. In a large, heavy pot (at least 4 quarts/4 liters), bring the spice infusion, 400 ml of the coconut milk, and the salt to a boil. Add the rice and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, stirring often, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is almost tender.
- 300 g rice, drained
- 750 ml spice infusion from step 1
- 400 ml coconut milk
- ½ tsp salt
✅ Done when: most of the liquid is absorbed and rice is almost tender
Sweeten
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Set
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Serve
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The Story Behind the Dish
Arroz con dulce is the Puerto Rican cousin of Spanish rice pudding, transformed by coconut milk and a strong spice infusion with fresh ginger. It's the classic dessert of the Navidades, the long Puerto Rican Christmas season.
It's often brought by guests on parrandas, surprise night-time visits with music.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Spiced, coconutty and comforting, it tastes like a Puerto Rican Christmas.
💡 Fun Fact
The Puerto Rican Christmas season is famously long, stretching from Thanksgiving to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in mid-January.
All over Puerto Rico
18.47°N, -66.11°W
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