Making a traditional Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe from my Portuguese mother's recipe box. Arroz Doce as we say in Portugal, is a family tradition for every holiday season.
I love the creamy taste of the Rice Custard and when visiting Portugal, you will commonly see it on the menu or pick it up ready to go from the grocery store. Another thing that this dessert has is a little cinnamon on top.
List of Ingredients
These are the brands that I prefer in my cooking, in my list on Amazon to check out.
- Rice, Dynasty Jasmine Rice 2 lbs Bag
- Salt, Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt
- Lemon, fresh peel the size of your thumb
- Water, use Spring water or a filter, the tap will affect the taste
- 3 cups milk, Whole Milk
- 1 tsp vanilla, Madagascar Vanilla Beans
- ⅔ cup sugar, Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar
- 2 egg yolks
Step by Step - Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe
I always pick my bowls in advance and set them on the table so when I'm done with everything I just pour them right into the bowls or into a glass pie dish.
2. Add the milk slowly as the rice cooks and stir.
4. Turn your heat down and add the mixture to the rice in the pot while mixing steadily and fast so as not to cook the egg yolk and have a custard base.
5. Pour the rice into a pie dish or bowl and let the rice cool. About 4 hours.
6. Top with fruit or cinnamon.
Variations
You can always add a little anise to the rice once it's done cooking with raisins for a little extra in the Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe. Also, a little sprinkle of cinnamon is traditional before serving.
Ways to Serve
I like to serve it with fresh fruit on the side such as mangos, strawberries or even green grapes. I tend to spoon it into a bowl and serve it with fruit on top.
Tip
When cooking the rice, I tend to watch it cook so not to overcook it. I also rinse my rice under cold water, it helps it to cook it better and holds the shape of the grain,
MORE RECIPES from Portugal
TRAVEL GUIDE to Portugal
Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice Jasmine Rice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 lemon, peel size of your thumb
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 egg yolks
Instructions
Cooking Rice
- Add the 4 cups of water, salt, a wedge of lemon, with a stick of cinnamon into the pot along with the rice.
- Add rice and let it start cooking the rice for about 15 minutes.
- Add the 2 cup of room temperature milk slowly as the rice cooks and stir quickly.
- Once the rice starts to cook add the sugar and mix everything together.
- Turn heat down to medium and stir as it cooks. About 20 minutes until you see this creamy looking rice.
Custard Mix
- In a separate bowl mix the egg yolk, vanilla and 1 cup of milk and stir.
- Turn your heat down and add the mixture to the rice in the pot while mixing steadily and fast so not to cook the egg yolk and have a lumpy custard base.
- Pour the rice into a pie dish and let the rice cool. About 4 hours
- Top with fruit or cinnamon
Notes
- When cooking the rice, I tend to watch it cook so not to over cook and burn at the bottom
- I also rinse my rice under cold water, it helps not become too starchy.
- Cinnamon is the most common top for in Portugal but I am not a fan so I like fruit of raisins on top.
Nutrition
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Erika says
Hi Lizzy! In the middle of making this and it mentions vanilla, but vanilla isn’t mentioned in the ingredient list. How much vanilla?
Lizzy says
Oh I'm so sorry! 1 tsp of vanilla or 1 vanilla bean. Hope you enjoy!
Amy says
Are we talking about long grain or short grain rice??
Lizzy says
Hi Amy - I use Jasmine Rice and I prefer the brand Dynasty Jasmine Rice. Let me know how it turns out. Oxox Lizzy
Lisa Ann says
Tried this last night and it was delicious, thanks for sharing!
Lizzy says
So glad you loved it. xoxo Lizzy
Maria says
I wonder if you can put raisins in while the rice is cooking?
Lizzy says
I have made it with raisins and put them closer to the end of cooking time. xoxo Lizzy
Liza says
I love this recipe, thank you for sharing
Lizzy says
Thank you hope you enjoy, xoxo Lizzy
Cheryl says
What a wonderful dish from Mom
Lizzy says
Thank you hope you enjoy, xoxo Lizzy
Maria says
I can't wait to make this on the weekend.
Lizzy says
Thank you hope you enjoy, xoxo Lizzy
Lizzy says
did your mom live in Portugal?
Sue Dalton says
Is it 2 or 3 cups of milk? You have 3 as a listed ingredient, but it says 2 in the making the recipe section. Thank you, I cant wait to try this!
Lizzy says
In a separate bowl mix the egg yolk, vanilla and 1 cup of milk and stir, then it is mixed together. That way the egg does not cook in the rice mix but gradually is introduced. So it's 3 cups total but 2 for the rice first. Hope that helps, xoxo Lizzy
Pam Souza says
This was the best rice pudding I have made thanks for sharing
Lizzy says
thanks so much, xoxo Lizzy