Arroz con Coco - Coconut Rice Pudding

I love arroz con leche!....It has to be one of my all time favorite comfort foods........... 

In fact, one of the first things I ever made in the kitchen by myself  was rice pudding.  The original recipe I have used for many years comes from a cookbook called Cocina Criolla by Nitza Villapol.  Nitza was the Cuban version of Julia Child, back in the 40's and 50's, many years before Julia became an icon in our kitchens.  This old classic cookbook was usually given to most 'damiselas' (young ladies) when they  married.  I got my first copy as a birthday gift from Mama Benita, my Cuban grandmother for my 14th birthday.  It was my first cookbook.

As I said in my last entry, the first recipe that I wanted to try from the new The Three Guys from Miami Celebrate Cuban Cookbook was the very first one in their book, the Coconut Rice Pudding.  We loved it!

The guys banter among themselves:

Glenn: The traditional rice pudding of Cuba, arroz con leche, is a year-round favorite.  Far from a  gourmet dish, it's a true Cuban "soul" food.  Every Cuban grew up eating this dish regularly.

Jorge: Arroz con leche is a geat way to welcome someone to your home.  It's not fancy, but serving it to your guests is like saying, "you're part of the family"

Raul: And who can resist something so sweet, fragrant, and soul satisfying?

Jorge: Are you sure you're not talking about Glenn's first girlfriend?

Glenn: As sweet as my first girlfriend may have been, this recipe takes the dream of the perfect arroz con leche one step further

Jorge: Yes, this one features the great tropical flavor of coconut, a taste that takes the ordinary to those heights of soul-satisfying goodness to which Cuban food fanatics can only dream.

Sonia quips: And that is another reason that Cuban and Hawaiian foods can be so similar.  Cubans love rice and eat it several times a day.  So do people in Hawaii.  Cubans love coconuts.  So do Hawaiians.  Cubans love sweets and guess what?........so do Hawaiians!            

The taste reminds me a little bit of a combination of rice pudding and Hawaii's beloved Haupia, the traditional coconut pudding many visitors get to taste when attending a Lu'au. Anthony suggested serving it with a drizzle of liliko'i syrup (passion fruit) on top.  I will try it next time.  But either way....it is a very satisfying dessert.   Comfort food at its finest!

Arroz con Coco – Coconut Rice Pudding

2 cups uncooked white rice

4 cups water

1 lemon peel

2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups unsweetened coconut milk

3 cups whole milk

1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

1 cup cane sugar

2 cups heavy (whipping) cream

Place the rice, water, lemon peel, cinnamon sticks and salt in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook uncovered until rice is soft, about 25 minutes or so.  Remove the lemon peel and cinnamon sticks.

Add the coconut milk, whole milk, shredded coconut and sugar to the rice and cook over very low heat, uncovered, stirring frequently, until thick, about 1 hour.  At this point the rice should be very sticky with most of the milk absorbed.

TIP: Keeping the heat low will reduce the number of stirrings.

Now, gently stir in the heavy cream and continue cooking over low heat, just long enough to warm the rice completely.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve immediately.

Serves 6 to 8

Comments

[Sonia]

Thank you Susan! Yes, I take all my photos. I don't claim to be the best photographer in the world, but I enjoy it!.....and since my sister taught me to use PhotoShop, I'm having a blast!

[Susan Billie Taylor]

Sonia, The Coconut Rice Pudding looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe, and I appreciate the "tip." The photograph is just beautiful. Do you take the photographs for your Blog? They are all so full of vibrant colors. Keep up the good work! I'm already looking forward to your next posting.

[Sonia]

Thank you Portia and Joan!
I hope you both try the recipe. It is a treat!
Sonia

[Joan]

Sonia, thanks for sharing the recipe here. This sounds like a wonderful book to read as well as cook from. Harold, my husband loves rice pudding and our daughter, Sarita made him some just the other day. I'll have to try this one for him as well since he loves coconut and I know he's never had rice pudding with coconut in it. I'm sure he's in for a treat.
Joan

[Portia Little]

Sonia, you are a born blogger!! I love your conversational style and your most recent entry about arroz con coco is most intriquing. Since I was a little child I've loved rice pudding and consider it to be one of the utmost comfort foods (next to bread pudding, of course!). Preparing it with coconut is new to me, however, so this recipe is definitely on my 'to try' list.
Congrats on another great blog. I look forward to many more!
Portia Little
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