Serves a Crowd

Arroz con Leche Nuevo Mexicano

by:
December 27, 2009
4.3
3 Ratings
Arroz con Leche Nuevo Mexicano
Photo by James Ransom
  • Serves 15 to 20
Author Notes

Arroz con leche was my favorite dessert as a child. This is a subtly sweet twist on my New Mexican grandmother's traditional "sweet rice." The fluffy egg white topping comes from grandmother's original recipe; the lemon zest and rum-soaked raisins are my additions from other traditional Mexican ones. —gabrielaskitchen

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup spiced rum (optional)
  • 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups long-grain rice
  • zest of 2 lemons
  • one 14-ounce can evaporated milk
  • one 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 egg whites
  • Dash ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
Directions
  1. (Optional) Heat rum in a small saucepan remove from heat and add raisins and stir. Set aside.
  2. Place milk, water, rice, and lemon zest in a medium heavy-bottom sauce pan. Bring to a gentle boil, once boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rice is tender. Remove from heat.
  3. Add the can of evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. Place back on low heat and stir occasionally until milk has thickened slightly, for about 5 minutes. Make sure you DO NOT BOIL the rice pudding at this point. If desired, add raisins. Remove from heat and keep covered with a lid.
  4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk whites until frothy (nearing soft peaks). Pour frothy whites atop the rice pudding and cover with lid. The heat from the just cooked rice will cook the fluffy whites. [Editors' note: We folded the whites into the pudding at this point using a rubber spatula.]
  5. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve warm or chilled.
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3 Reviews

Terrse
Terrse October 31, 2022
Just found this recipe and I’m so excited! My mother-in-law made this and I’ve tried to copy it without a recipe! This looks like hers !!!! The only difference is I think she folded in heavy whipped cream with vanilla.
 
Lizthechef
Lizthechef December 31, 2009
Are you living in Santa Fe? There is a nice restaurant outside of town named similar to your user name... A beautiful part of the world - and now another recipe to try - thanks!
 
gabrielaskitchen
gabrielaskitchen January 7, 2010
I was born n' raised in Albuquerque, NM now living in nyc....and yes, NM is a place like to none other! I'm hoping to return there and settle down after this stint in nyc. Hope you have a chance to try the recipe.