Sweet Rice Pudding Arroz Doce Portugal Food

CREAMY PORTUGUESE RICE PUDDING (ARROZ DOCE)

Steps:

• Place the water, salt, and lemon peel into a medium pan and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and allow the water to simmer with a lid on for about 15 minutes.
• Remove the lemon peel from the water with a slotted spoon and discard.
• Add the rice to the water and bring it back up to a boil. Then reduce it to a simmer and allow the rice to absorb all of the water (about 10 minutes).
• Now slowly add the hot milk, a bit at a time, to the rice mixture. After each addition (of about 1/2 cup), allow the liquid to absorb before adding the next batch of milk. Stir frequently and keep the heat low, so that the rice does not burn at the bottom of the pan. This should take about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Pour the rice into a serving dish. Sprinkle the top with the cinnamon and the lemon slice if you like.
• Chill the rice and then serve.

SWEET RICE PUDDING - ARROZ DOCE - PORTUGAL

Steps:

• Heat milk in 2 1/2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat until little bubbles form around the edges and the milk starts to steam.
• In a separate pan, add rice and salt. Add enough water to just cover the rice, and place the pan over medium-high heat, cover,and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and stirring constantly, cook the rice until the water evaporates, being careful not to burn it.
• Stir the scalded milk into the rice and add the orange peel, cover and simmer the rice for another 20 to 25 minutes, until it is almost done.
• When the rice is tender, remove the orange peel and stir in the sugar, continue to simmer for 5 more minutes until the sugar is dissolved.
• The pudding should be somewhat thick, like oatmeal. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Pour onto flat serving platters or individual dishes.
• Garnish with cinnamon in the Portuguese style: pinching some cinnamon between the index finger and thumb, dropping it close to the surface of the rice by rubbing the finger and thmb together, in a design or intials of the guest of honor and chill.
• Serve chilled or remove from the refrigerator 20 minutes before serving.

ARROZ DOCE (PORTUGUESE SWEET RICE)

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan.
• Add rice and cover, simmering for 20 minutes.
• Add milk, sugar and lemon rind, stirring constantly until thickened to oatmeal consistency, about 15-20 minutes.
• It will also thicken some while cooling.
• Pour into one large serving plate and remove lemon rind.
• Spread flat and allow to cool on wire rack.
• You can be decorative with cinnamon by pinching a bit between your fingers and place while your hand is no more than an inch away from the rice (criss cross patterns are traditional), or you can just dust the entire top with the cinnamon.
• Serve at room temp, but refrigerate uneaten portion.

PORTUGUESE SWEET RICE (ARROZ DOCE)

Steps:

• Turn stove to maximum. In a large pot add water. Peel most of the rind from one lemon and add the peels to the pot. Set lemon aside and turn stove down to medium.
• Add salt and margarine.
• When water is boiling, add rice. Stir constantly.
• When most of the liquid boils away, add 1/2 cup of milk. Stir. Repeat this step until all the milk is added.
• Remove rind from pot.
• Grate the rest of the lemon zest and add it. Add sugar. Remove pot from element.
• Slowly stir in egg yolks. (add a little bit of milk to the yolks first).
• Return pot to the element just until the rice boils. Stir constantly to avoid burning!
• Pour into casserole dish and allow to cool slightly before covering.
• Just before serving, sprinkle cinnamon on top.
• Tip: for a stronger lemon flavour, use two lemons. Peel most of the rind from one for the cooking process, and grate most of the zest from a second lemon to add at the end. For a weaker flavour, use only one lemon and make it stretch for both.