Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (2024)

Published: Modified: by Lizzy

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Making a traditional Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe from my Portuguese mother's recipe box. Arroz Doce as we say in Portugal, is a family tradition for every holiday season.

While my mom was here she decided to make my favorite Portuguese dessert. Which is never a disappointment and brings back many childhood memories. You see it is a very common dessert to bring to people's homes and celebrate any special occasion.


I love the creamy taste of the Rice Custard and when visiting Portugal, you will commonly see it on the menu or pick it up ready to go from the grocery store. Another thing that this dessert has is a little cinnamon on top.

I am not a fan of cinnamon so I left it out. It is very easy to make and I usually have all the ingredients at home so if I ever have to just whip it up for a craving or a get-together, I’m always prepared to make this Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe.

Contents hide

1 List of Ingredients

2 Step by Step - Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe

3 Variations

4 Ways to Serve

5 Tip

6 MORE RECIPES from Portugal

7 TRAVEL GUIDE to Portugal

8 Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe

List of Ingredients

These are the brands that I prefer in my cooking, in my list on Amazon to check out.

  • Rice, Dynasty Jasmine Rice 2 lbs Bag
  • Salt, Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt
  • Lemon, fresh peelthe size of your thumb
  • Water, use Spring water or a filter, the tap will affect the taste
  • 3cupsmilk, Whole Milk
  • 1tspvanilla, Madagascar Vanilla Beans
  • ⅔cupsugar, Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar
  • 2egg yolks

Step by Step - Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe

I always pick my bowls in advance and set them on the table so when I'm done with everything I just pour them right into the bowls or into a glass pie dish.

1. Add the water, salt, a wedge of lemon, a stick of cinnamon, and rice into a pot to start cooking the rice slowly for about 15 minutes.
2. Add the milk slowly as the rice cooks and stir.

3. Once the rice starts to cook add the sugar and mix, in a separate bowl mix the egg yolk, vanilla, and milk and stir.
4. Turn your heat down and add the mixture to the rice in the pot while mixing steadily and fast so as not to cook the egg yolk and have a custard base.
5. Pour the rice into a pie dish or bowl and let the rice cool. About 4 hours.
6. Top with fruit or cinnamon.

Variations

You can always add a little anise to the rice once it's done cooking with raisins for a little extra in the Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe. Also, a little sprinkle of cinnamon is traditional before serving.

Ways to Serve

I like to serve it with fresh fruit on the side such as mangos, strawberries or even green grapes. I tend to spoon it into a bowl and serve it with fruit on top.

Tip

When cooking the rice, I tend to watch it cook so not to overcook it. I also rinse my rice under cold water, it helps it to cook it better and holds the shape of the grain,

MORE RECIPES from Portugal

  • Mom's Paella
  • Christmas Popovers
  • Portuguese Cod Fish Salad

TRAVEL GUIDE to Portugal

  • Lisbon Portugal
  • Cascais Portugal
  • Sintra Portugal
  • Where Locals Eat in Lisbon Portugal

Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe

Lizzy Cascalheira

Recipe from Portugal! Making a traditional, gluten-free Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe for dessert is so easy. It's quick and easy to make and a must in my family for Easter Sunday.

4.24 from 30 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Portuguese

Servings 14

Calories 125 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice Jasmine Rice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 lemon, peel size of your thumb
  • 4 cups water
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • cup sugar
  • 2 egg yolks

Instructions

Cooking Rice

  • Add the 4 cups of water, salt, a wedge of lemon, with a stick of cinnamon into the pot along with the rice.

  • Add rice and let it start cooking the rice for about 15 minutes.

  • Add the 2 cup of room temperature milk slowly as the rice cooks and stir quickly.

  • Once the rice starts to cook add the sugar and mix everything together.

  • Turn heat down to medium and stir as it cooks. About 20 minutes until you see this creamy looking rice.

Custard Mix

  • In a separate bowl mix the egg yolk, vanilla and 1 cup of milk and stir.

  • Turn your heat down and add the mixture to the rice in the pot while mixing steadily and fast so not to cook the egg yolk and have a lumpy custard base.

  • Pour the rice into a pie dish and let the rice cool. About 4 hours

  • Top with fruit or cinnamon

Notes

  • When cooking the rice, I tend to watch it cook so not to over cook and burn at the bottom
  • I also rinse my rice under cold water, it helps not become too starchy.
  • Cinnamon is the most common top for in Portugal but I am not a fan so I like fruit of raisins on top.

Nutrition

Serving: 770gCalories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 360mgPotassium: 87mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 122IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg

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About Lizzy

I love to cook, eat and find good places to have a great meal so no matter where I go I always ask the locals the same question, “Where’s a good place to eat?”

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erika

    Hi Lizzy! In the middle of making this and it mentions vanilla, but vanilla isn’t mentioned in the ingredient list. How much vanilla?

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      Oh I'm so sorry! 1 tsp of vanilla or 1 vanilla bean. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Amy

    Are we talking about long grain or short grain rice??

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      Hi Amy - I use Jasmine Rice and I prefer the brand Dynasty Jasmine Rice. Let me know how it turns out. Oxox Lizzy

      Reply

  3. Lisa Ann

    Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (14)
    Tried this last night and it was delicious, thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      So glad you loved it. xoxo Lizzy

      Reply

  4. Maria

    Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (15)
    I wonder if you can put raisins in while the rice is cooking?

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      I have made it with raisins and put them closer to the end of cooking time. xoxo Lizzy

      Reply

  5. Liza

    Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (16)
    I love this recipe, thank you for sharing

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      Thank you hope you enjoy, xoxo Lizzy

      Reply

  6. Cheryl

    Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (17)
    What a wonderful dish from Mom

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      Thank you hope you enjoy, xoxo Lizzy

      Reply

  7. Maria

    Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (18)
    I can't wait to make this on the weekend.

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      Thank you hope you enjoy, xoxo Lizzy

      Reply

  8. Lizzy

    Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (19)
    did your mom live in Portugal?

    Reply

  9. Sue Dalton

    Is it 2 or 3 cups of milk? You have 3 as a listed ingredient, but it says 2 in the making the recipe section. Thank you, I cant wait to try this!

    Reply

    • Lizzy

      In a separate bowl mix the egg yolk, vanilla and 1 cup of milk and stir, then it is mixed together. That way the egg does not cook in the rice mix but gradually is introduced. So it's 3 cups total but 2 for the rice first. Hope that helps, xoxo Lizzy

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Portuguese Rice Custard Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of rice is used in Portugal? ›

Portuguese rice production is mainly based on varieties of Italian and Spanish origin, such as Ariete, Guadiagran, Teti, Opale, Lusitano, Presto and Ronaldo.

What country did rice pudding originate from? ›

Though we may never really know exactly where rice pudding first originated, from what we do know, it has its roots in India and China many thousands of years ago. It's thought to have come to Europe around the 14th century.

How to make rice pudding Nigella? ›

Preheat the oven to 150'C. Put the rice and golden raisins in an oven proof dish. Stir together the evaporated milk, sugar and normal milk and pour over the rice. Put in the middle tray of the oven and stir after half an hour, put back in the oven for another hour and then remove.

What is the history of rice in Portugal? ›

In Portugal, rice production started to be documented in the early 18th century. The Romans had imported rice but had never grown it on a large scale. The Muslims started to grow it on irrigated fields in Sicily and Spain and in the 18th century there are records of rice fields in Portugal around the Tagus estuary.

Which is the national dish of Portugal? ›

Bacalhau

The national dish of Portugal, bacalhau is dried and salted codfish, which is usually soaked in milk or water before cooking.

What is the most popular dish in Portugal? ›

Polvo à Lagareiro (octopus with olive oil and potatoes)

One of the most ubiquitous dishes across the country and one nearly guaranteed to be locally sourced, polvo à Lagareiro is said to have originated in the central Portuguese region known as the Beiras.

Which is the greatest rice pudding in the world? ›

Answer: 1. the greatest rice pudding in the world is kheer. 2.it is the mixture of sweetened milk with a whole rice.

What is rice pudding called in America? ›

Arroz con leche (rice with milk) is the Spanish and American type of rice pudding. Leftover rice is often used, especially in restaurants.

Do Americans eat rice pudding? ›

It was then introduced to Europe by the Moors, and eventually made its way to America with the help of British and Dutch settlers. Today, rice pudding is enjoyed by people of all cultures and is often considered a comfort food. It can be served warm or cold, and is often topped with whipped cream, nuts, or fruit.

What is the difference between rice pudding and custard? ›

Custard is a creamy dessert made from a mixture of milk or cream, eggs, sugar, and flavorings, typically thickened with heat. Pudding, on the other hand, is a sweet, creamy dessert that can be thickened with a variety of ingredients such as cornstarch, gelatin, tapioca, or rice.

Which rice is better for rice pudding? ›

Rice - I've tried all sorts of rice types and uncooked medium grain is by far the best for rice pudding, followed by risotto rice. Risotto rice (arborio) - needs extra liquid, add 1 cup (250ml) water into the saucepan with milk, and cook for 1 hr 20 minutes.

How to make Jamie Oliver's rice pudding? ›

Method. Put the rice, milk, 200ml of water, half the maple syrup or honey and the vanilla into a large pan. Give it a good stir, then place the pan on a very low heat. Cook gently for around 45 minutes, or until thick and creamy, stirring regularly.

Is rice popular in Portugal? ›

Potatoes and rice are also extremely common in Portuguese cuisine.

Who was the first country to eat rice? ›

The current scientific consensus, based on archaeological and linguistic evidence, is that Oryza sativa rice was first domesticated in the Yangtze River basin in China 13,500 to 8,200 years ago.

How is rice grown in Portugal? ›

Although the rice has been cultivated by hand for a long time, this process has been almost entirely replaced with small planes that scatter the fields with seeds at low altitude. After the seeds have been sown, they fall to the ground and grow at random.

Does Portugal produce rice? ›

Portugal is the fourth largest rice producer in the EU, after Italy, Spain and Greece.

What kind of rice is used in Europe? ›

JAPONICA RICE , a short/medium grain variety which is the "traditional" European rice and represents around 75% of EU rice production.

Is rice a staple in Portugal? ›

Starting with food, it is true that the Portuguese eat a lot of rice, so much so that the country ranks #1 in Europe for rice consumption! (In terms of rice production, Italy is #1 in Europe, and clearly they export what they don't use for their own risotto.)

What is the name of the European rice? ›

The most prominent European rice is Japonica, which accounts for about 10% of world production.

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