Mama’s Arroz con Dulce
Amanda Farías, District 18:
Soundview, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point, Harding Park
This is my family’s favorite dessert recipe, passed down from my grandmother. The aroma that fills the house while making it brings back a lot of joyous holiday memories with my grandparents and family. My grandparents’ house was the center of our family gatherings. My brothers and I are super lucky because my mother perfected all of my grandma’s recipes and she makes arroz con dulce and all of our other favorites. So, we get to enjoy the exact same dishes every holiday!
Ingredients
2 cups white rice
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
1 can evaporated milk (we use Carnation brand)
2 cans cream of coconut (we use Coco Lopez brand)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup whole milk
Directions
In a large saucepan or pot, bring 3 cups of water to a simmer. Add the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the flavors are infused into the water.
Remove the spices with a slotted spoon and save the infused water.
Add the cream of coconut, whole milk, and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil.
Add the rice, brown sugar, butter and raisins and stir thoroughly. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 20 minutes, remove the lid and stir. Keeping the heat at a simmer, continue to cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until the rice is cooked through and creamy. The water should be fully absorbed. If the water is absorbed but the rice is still not cooked, add a little hot water (about 1/4 cup) at a time and continue to cook until done.
Pour into your serving dish or dishes for individual size servings. Allow to cool and then place in the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve. Garnish with cinnamon powder before serving and enjoy!