Catholic Recipe: Arroz Dulce

Also Called: Coconut Rice, Sweet Rice

This following recipe from Puerto Rico may be used with cocoanut milk; but it is equally delicious as plain American rice pudding when cow's milk is used. Prepared ahead of time, it I gives a mother a chance to enjoy Christmas morning. (Cocoanut milk may be purchased in stores in Spanish sections or may be made by soaking a package of dry cocoanut for an hour in one cup and a half of water and then straining it.)

DIRECTIONS

Wash rice. Put in a saucepan with the boiling water and boil 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Scald milk in top of double boiler over boiling water. Add the rice, sugar, raisins, and salt, and cook, covered, until rice is tender — about 40 minutes. Beat egg well, and add to it 2 heaping tablespoons of the rice mixture. Mix well and pour back into remaining rice mixture in the double boiler. Cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and mix well. Serve warm or cold.