What is a recipe for arroz con dulce?

The traditional Puerto Rican Arroz con Dulce is made by boiling soaked white rice with a boiled mixture of coconut milk, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Sugar and raisins are stirred in later to continue cooking, before the rice is left to cool before serving.

Arroz con Dulce

Traditionally, the recipe for Arroz con Dulce tends to vary between families, and ingredients may vary. This recipe yields approximately 12 servings.

Prep Time: 2 hours

Cook Time: 1 hour

Ready In: 3 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups white rice
• 3 cups water
• 5 cups coconut milk, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 6 whole cloves
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup raisins

1. Soak the rice

Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in the 3 cups of water for 2 hours, or until the rice has increased in size.

2. Prepare coconut flavoring

20 minutes before the 2 hour soaking period is finished, combine 4 1/4 cups of the coconut milk with salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg in a Dutch oven and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Add rice and raisins

Drain the rice completely and stir it into the coconut mixture, returning to a boil then reducing again to a simmer. When the rice is dry, add the sugar and raisins and again return to a boil, then simmer for another 15 minutes.

4. Add remaining coconut, cook and serve

Stir the remaining coconut milk into the rice, return to a boil and cook for 30 minutes until the rice is dry again. Scrape the rice up occasionally as it sticks to the pot. Allow the rice to cool on a serving platter at room temperature, removing the cinnamon and cloves. Serve cold.