Traditionally rice mixed with flower petals was always thrown as the bride and groom came out of the church at their wedding. The amount thrown depended on how much was left over from making the traditional rice pudding served at most weddings.
I don’t wait for weddings to have rice pudding, I will make it any day as a comfort food, and it is a favourite with my son Raymond and grandson Marco too. To enjoy it fully, you leave a large amount in the pot, sprinkle it with cinnamon and sit down somewhere quiet to eat it all by yourself.
Ingredients
Serves 4
125g white rice
375ml water
pinch of salt
500ml warm milk
1 stick cinnamon
strip of lemon rind
200g sugar
25g butter
2 egg yolks
10ml lemon zest
ground cinnamon, to garnish
Method
Place rice in a bowl and cover with the water. Soak for half an hour.
Strain the water and place the rice, water and salt in a saucepan.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the warm milk, cinnamon stick and lemon rind.
Simmer until the rice is almost cooked.
Remove the cinnamon stick and the lemon rind.
Add the sugar and butter and continue cooking for 10–15 minutes.
Beat the egg yolks.
Add a little of the warm rice mixture to the yolks, mix well and pour into the saucepan.
Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring continuously.
Add the lemon zest.
Pour into individual serving bowls or onto a large platter (do not forget to leave a little for the cook!).
Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and serve.
*Recipe taken from My Portuguese Feast by Quivertree Publication
My Portuguese Feast