Arroz con Leche Costa Rica - Easy Recipe - Pura Vida Moms (2024)

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Costa Rican arroz con leche combines white rice, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla for the perfect sweet dessert served warm or cold!

About Costa Rican arroz con leche

Arroz con leche (rice with milk) is a favorite food across Latin America. Young children are introduced to the food before they can even walk through the popular Spanish folk song “Arroz con leche, me quiero casar…” The food is a Latin cultural and culinary phenomenon.

This dish isn’t just a Latin American or Costa Rican favorite though. Known as rice pudding in English, this dessert is popular in Asia, Europe, and even Canada and the United States. It’s a gluten-free food.

Arroz con leche originated in Spain during the Middle Ages and is thought to have been inspired by Arabic culinary tradition. While the Spanish style of arroz con leche usually requires cinnamon and vanilla, the recipe exists all over in different variations.

In Costa Rica, arroz con leche is most often a dessert that is eaten at celebrations. This is for several reasons- it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to make, but also it’s really easy to make a LOT of it at once. Like so many Costa Rican recipes, each family has their own twist on the recipe- some people add raisins, pineapple, vanilla, nutmeg, you name it.

It’s usually eaten with a nice hot cup of coffee or agua dulce, and always with your favorite company. Here is our family’s arroz con leche recipe from the town of San Ramon, Costa Rica. I hope you love it.

Related post: Costa Rican Tres Leches Recipe

Arroz con Leche Costa Rican Recipe

(Printable recipe below)

Ingredients

white rice
water
margarine or butter (optional)
cinnamon stick
whole cloves
granulated white sugar
sweetened condensed milk
evaporated milk
pinch of salt lime zest
vanilla extract
raisins (optional)

Instructions

In a large saucepan, combine the rice, margarine, 3.5 cups water, rice, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Boil over high heat until the water dries up, stirring occasionally to avoid the rice sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Arroz con Leche Costa Rica - Easy Recipe - Pura Vida Moms (4)

Once the rice dries up add the hot water, sugar, and evaporated milk, stirring constantly.

Add half the can of sweetened condensed milk, the lime zest and pinch of salt. Boil and stir until the desired consistency is reached.

Arroz con Leche Costa Rica - Easy Recipe - Pura Vida Moms (5)

Serve warm and sprinkled with ground cinnamon or nutmeg powder.

Related post: Miel de coco- Costa Rican Dessert Recipe

Arroz con Leche Costa Rica - Easy Recipe - Pura Vida Moms (6)

Substitutions

You can use coconut milk in place of the evaporated milk.

You can use butter in place of margarine, or omit all together.

You can really use any kind of citrus zest- orange, lemon, grapefruit, etc.

You can use any type of rice, but we have found in the United States that the rice that most resembles the home-grown Costa Rican rice is Thai Jasmine rice.

Variations

The last time I visited Costa Rica I made arroz con leche with our matriarch and then I took it to some friends so they could enjoy it. And they turned their nose up at my dessert!

Turns out there are two ways to make arroz con leche- seco y aguado. Our family prefers seco- where you allow the rice to almost fully absorb all of the liquid, and the arroz con leche gets almost crispy in texture.

Aguado is when the arroz con leche has a bit more liquid in it. If you want to get the aguado texture, just cook the rice pudding for less time- let it heat through but don’t allow all of the liquid to absorb before removing it from the heat.

Another variation is the raisins- our family is totally anti-raisin, but so many recipes include them. Some traditional recipes also include chunks of pineapple, and even use a cup of pineapple juice in place of water.

Many people add a good tablespoon of vanilla extract to the recipe too. I love it like that- but it’s not our family recipe so I omitted it.

Related post: Empanadas de Chiverre – Costa Rica

Serving Suggestions

Arroz con leche is served warm in small bowls. If you make it ahead of a party, it’s customary to chill it in the refrigerator for up to a week and serve cold.

Printable Recipe

Yield: 16 servings

Arroz con Leche

Arroz con Leche Costa Rica - Easy Recipe - Pura Vida Moms (11)

Costa Rican arroz con leche combines white rice, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla for the perfect sweet dessert served warm or cold!

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups white rice
  • 3.5 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons margarine or butter (optional)
  • 2 cups hot water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 can of evaporated milk
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan, combine the rice, margarine, 3.5 cups water, rice, cinnamon stick, and cloves.
  2. Boil over high heat until the water dries up, stirring occasionally to avoid the rice sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  3. Once the rice dries up add the hot water, sugar, and evaporated milk, stirring constantly.
  4. Add half the can of sweetened condensed milk, the lime zest, and pinch of salt.
  5. Boil and stir until the desired consistency is reached.
  6. Serve warm and sprinkled with ground cinnamon or nutmeg powder.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 317Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 93mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 1gSugar: 37gProtein: 5g

Please double-check this information with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Arroz con Leche Costa Rica - Easy Recipe - Pura Vida Moms (17)
Arroz con Leche Costa Rica - Easy Recipe - Pura Vida Moms (2024)

FAQs

What is arroz con leche made of in Costa Rica? ›

Costa Rican arroz con leche combines white rice, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla for the perfect sweet dessert served warm or cold!

Is arroz con leche supposed to be cold or hot? ›

Arroz con leche is a popular Latin American dish served either hot or cold. It's a popular dessert commonly served at parties, but it can also be eaten for breakfast. It's a universally loved dish as there are different, but similar, variations of this delicious recipe throughout the world.

What does Pura Vida represent in Costa Rica? ›

It's Costa Rica's unofficial national slogan, and you hear it everywhere. The meaning of pura vida, of course, is “pure life,” and it's come to symbolize the simple, cheerful outlook and lifestyle of what is often called the happiest country in the world.

What does arroz con leche contain? ›

Arroz con leche is prepared all over Spain, with several small regional variations, but the basic ingredients are the same: rice, milk, sugar and lemon or orange peel. It is also possible to find this dessert in other Spanish speaking countries, such as Peru or Costa Rica.

Why is my Arroz con Leche hard? ›

If the problem is that the rice grains themselves are hard and crunchy, they did not have adequate time to cook — or it could be that you did not add enough liquid. Go ahead and add about a ½ cup of water (or milk). Stir thoroughly and let the pot simmer for as long as is needed.

What is the most popular dessert in Costa Rica? ›

Tres leche – which literally translates to 'three milks' – is more than a dessert in Costa Rica, it's a bona fide culinary institution. National Geographic even went as far as to name this the country's 'national dessert' due to it being ubiquitous and insanely delicious.

Who first made arroz con leche? ›

Arroz con leche is a Spanish dish of warm pudding mainly made of rice, milk and cinnamon. The origin of this dish began back in Spain when Muslims brought the dish during their invasion of Spain. Spain then brought that dish to Mexico during their conquest, where it soon became a popular dish.

Who eats arroz con leche? ›

Rice pudding around the world. Arroz con leche (rice with milk) is the Spanish and American type of rice pudding. Leftover rice is often used, especially in restaurants. Rice puddings are found in nearly every area of the world.

Where is arroz con leche most eaten? ›

Arroz con Leche is one of Mexico's most popular desserts and with good reason; it's rich, sweet, and so comforting.

How do I reply to Pura Vida? ›

If someone says hello or goodbye, you can say Pura Vida back. If someone asks how you are, you can say Pura Vida, meaning you're doing well. If someone asks you about a restaurant in town, you can say Pura Vida, meaning it's great.

Who owns Pura Vida? ›

In 2019, Vera Bradley purchased a 75% stakeholder share in Pura Vida's parent company, Creative Genius.

What does pura vida mean in slang? ›

You'll hear Pura Vida (poo-rah vee-duh) a lot. More than just “pure life” in its literal English translation, it's the quintessential Costa Rican phrase. It's a lifestyle, a feeling, a perspective, encapsulating how Costa Ricans cherish life's simplest pleasures and find joy in the little things.

What's the difference between horchata and arroz con leche? ›

Arroz con leche is a Spanish version of rice pudding where the milk and rice are sweetened, cooked and flavored, creating a thick dish. Horchata is also made with milk, sugar and rice, however the rice is soaked, and the solids are then strained out creating a delicious chilled beverage.

What are some interesting facts about arroz con leche? ›

In some places, the dish is said to be very beneficial. According to the population of Costa Rica, arroz con leche heals the wounds of the soul and brightens the day. In Colombia, grated coconut is often used as an extra ingredient as well as a garnish on the top of the rice pudding.

Where is arroz con leche from originally? ›

Originating from arabic culture, this dish was introduced into Spain centuries ago during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. Cinnamon, raisins, vanilla, or lemon is added for additional flavor, and is acceptable to be served hot or cold. There are several variations throughout the hispanic world.

What ingredients are used in Costa Rica? ›

Basic elements. Rice and beans are included in nearly every Costa Rican meal, especially breakfast. Potatoes are another Costa Rican staple, part of the starch-rich Tico diet. Pork and beef are the most commonly eaten meats, but chicken and fish dishes are also widely available, especially on the Caribbean coast.

Where does arroz con leche come from? ›

Unraveling the origins: The history of This traditional Sweet. Arroz con Leche has a rich history rooted deep in Peru's culinary culture. Its origins trace back to Spain during the Moorish occupation. Spanish conquerors introduced this dish to Peru in the 16th century.

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