Portuguese Sweet Rice Dessert

During the past few weeks, ever since school started, I've been a very lazy crafter. I have several sewing and crochet projects in the making, but I haven't found the patience or the energy to complete them yet. 

I have been cooking a lot, though, trying on new recipes and finding fast and uncomplicated ways to serve healthy food to my family. 

What I bring you today isn't anything new, though. It is actually a traditional Portuguese dessert: sweet rice. 

 

It's very easy to make, delicious and, truth be told, one of the only two desserts that my son actually eats (the other is strawberry ice cream; he's just not into sweets). 

You seriously need to try it!

To make sweet rice you'll need: 

• 800 milliliters of milk
• 100 grams of rice
• 100 grams of sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• powdered cinnamon 
• lemon peels (just a couple of bits)
• 2 egg yellows

 (quantities above will serve 6)

Pour the milk in a pan, add the lemon peels and the cinnamon stick and let it boil.

As soon as it boils, add the rice and lower the heat. Let it simmer for about 45 minutes in order for the rice to cook very slowly, stirring every five minutes or so.

Halfway through, add the sugar and keep stirring.
 

When the rice is soft and most of the liquid has evaporated, leaving a soft, slightly sticky mixture, add the egg yellows. 

Stir until the egg yellows are evenly mixed and you're done!



Traditionally, sweet rice is served in little clay pots like the ones below:

I have them and I use them on occasion, especially when I make sweet rice to serve at a party or when we have friends over, but most of the times, just for us, I use more practical bowls with lids that I can easily store in the refrigerator. 

As soon as the sweet rice cools down a little, spirnkle it with powdered cinnamon, and it's yours to enjoy!

It can be served hot or cold and I'm partial to eating it still warm from the pan, but even after a few days in the refrigerator it is still amazing.

Enjoy,