Arroz Doce — Portuguese Rice Pudding

Creamy rice pudding flavoured with lemon zest and cinnamon, finished with egg yolks.

TIME BREAKDOWN
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 50 min
Total: 1 hour
Vegetarian
✅
Nuts
❌
Serves
6 people
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

  • 200g short grain or pudding rice
  • 500ml water
  • Strip of lemon zest
  • 1 litre whole milk
  • 150g caster sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Ground cinnamon, to decorate

Method

  1. Put the rice, water, lemon zest and salt in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes until the water has nearly been absorbed.

  2. Add the milk and cinnamon stick, bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until the rice is tender and creamy.

  3. Stir in the sugar and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the lemon zest and cinnamon stick.

  4. Whisk the egg yolks with a ladleful of the hot rice, then stir back into the pan. Cook over a very low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, without boiling.

  5. Spoon into a serving dish or individual bowls and cool. Dust with ground cinnamon, writing patterns if you like, and serve warm or chilled.