Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I am compensated for this Arroz con Lechera receta post as part of Nestlé’s #juntosconnestlé campaign. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m so excited to bring to you a new modernized version of condensed milk rice pudding on the stove! My recent partnership with Nestle allowed me to tweak my Mom’s arroz con leche panameño into this arroz con Lechera recipe I am sharing with you today.
Down Memory Lane with Panamanian Rice Pudding (Arroz con Leche Panameño)
One of the desserts I remember most from my childhood is my mom’s arroz con leche panameño. The tantalizing smell of cinnamon throughout the house often tempted this little girl so much that I sometimes sneaked to the stove to take a bite when my mom wasn’t looking – always, ALWAYS, burning my tongue and the roof of my mouth. It was so hard to wait when the smell of cinnamon was so heavy in the air.
The Origins of Rice Pudding
According to the great interwebs, there is some disagreement on the origins of rice pudding. While some believe China was the original source of rice pudding, others believe India or Persia may have been the original place of development.
That comes as no surprise given that all of those areas are known to have rice as a staple. This is also the case for the Central and South American regions. There are so many many versions of rice puddings around the world: arroz con leche peruana, arroz con leche cubano, arroz con leche mexicana, rice pudding Thai style, and the list just goes on!
Because rice is a food staple in Panama, rice pudding on the stove is a popular dish there. Arroz con leche panameño is used for holidays and special occasions but also for the random night that calls for a sweet treat. It can be served warm or cold, though I have always preferred it warm.
Modifying Mom’s Recipe into Arroz con Lechera Panameno
When I had the opportunity to recreate a heritage dish with a twist using Nestlé® La Lechera, I knew Mom’s Panamanian arroz con leche was a front runner recipe choice. This also gave the opportunity for the girls to help make arroz con leche just like I did as a girl. And since these girls seem to live for desserts, I knew the sweet and creamy rice pudding would be right up their alley.
And that is how Mom’s arroz con leche morphed into my new arroz con Lechera recipe.
Making Condensed Milk Rice Pudding with La Lechera Sweetened Condensed Milk
My mom’s original recipe calls for sugar. I chose to replace the sugar with Nestlé® La Lechera. La Lechera is an international line of Nestle. You can find La Lechera sweetened condensed milk in your local Walmart or Kroger in the aisle of popular Hispanic products. You can also find it on Amazon.
The La Lechera comes in a can version or a squeeze bottle version. I decided on the squeeze bottle version because….well, cooking with kids! Kids love to squeeze things, ya know?
I also picked up a Dulce de Leche version of the La Lechera which will be a fun addition to a few other recipes I intend to make this holiday season.
Allowing Kids to Help Make Arroz con Lechera
Little One was in full-on grump mode the weekend Scooter Britches and I prepared this recipe with the accompanying video. We let her sit out of the cooking session this time. It was for the best of everyone’s sanity.
SB had fun helping with the arroz con Lechera.
Because of the boiling water, I only allowed her to help with certain parts of the preparation. Obviously, she did not need to mess around with a boiling pot of rice.
She assisted with pouring the water into the pot and pouring uncooked rice from the bag into a large bowl using a measuring cup. She also helped with the salt, the milk, the La Lechera sweetened condensed milk, and the spices.
Check out our video linked below!
The La Lechera was a perfect replacement for the sugar in this condensed milk rice pudding recipe – providing a thick and creamy consistency to the comforting cinnamon-y pudding.
Man, this arroz con Lechera brought back memories. I wonder what took me so long to make it! Just this morning in the car, SB asked me if we could make it again because it is “sooooo yummy!” It will definitely be part of our holiday menu.
If the taste isn’t quite cinnamon-y enough for you, you can always sprinkle on more cinnamon and stir in before serving.
Rice pudding is popular around the world. Does your family enjoy rice pudding?
Be Sure to Check Out Our Other Panama Recipes!
Arroz con Lechera {Condensed Milk Rice Pudding}
Ingredients
- 6 cups Water
- 3 cup Rice medium grain or long grain
- 1 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 11 oz Nestlé® La Lechera
- 2.5 cups Whole milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tbsp Cinnamon May start with ½ tablespoon and add more to suit taste
- 1 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 cup Raisins optional
Instructions
- Spray large stock pot with a bit of cooking oil.
- In stock pot, bring water and one tablespoon oil to boil. Once water is at a boil, pour in the rice and spread around. Add a cinnamon stick.
- Bring rice to boil and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Drain water.
- Stir La Lechera, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg into drained rice.
- Cook over medium-high heat until mixure comes to a boil.
- Add raisins (if using).
- Reduce heat to low-medium and continue to cook, uncovered, stirring often until mixture is thick – about 15 -20 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to serving bowls but allow to cool. Mixture will be hot!
- Dust with a bit of additional cinnamon before serving. Serve warm or cold.
MONICA Y
I love arroz con leche, it is something brings memories from when I was growing up
Kari
My tía is Panamanian! 🙂 Sorry, that just made me irrationally happy to see. She’s actually one of my mom’s closest friends, but she’s basically family. 🙂 Arroz con leche is such a yummy dish, and it’s always fun to see the how the different Latina cultures all have certain strikingly similar foods. Thank you for sharing! 🙂