Hispanic Heritage Month - Recipe #3

This recipe comes from Hidy's special family recipe from Columbia. 

Colombian Rice Pudding with Salted Potatoes & Steak submitted by Hidy

This is a special family recipe from Colombia that I learned from my mom. I make it with lots of love for my family, and my husband and son absolutely love it. The combination of the sweet, creamy rice pudding with the salty potatoes and savory steak might sound unusual but trust me—it is absolutely delicious! The sweet and salty flavors together make this dish extra special.

 Colombian Rice Pudding

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter

• 10 cups milk

• 4 cinnamon sticks

• 5 whole cloves

• 2 cups rice

• 2 cans sweetened condensed milk

• 3 cups water

• A little salt

• Sugar, if needed

 

Directions

1. Add the 3 cups of water to a large pot. Add the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves and bring everything to a boil. Let it boil for about 5 minutes so the water becomes infused with the cinnamon and cloves.

2. Remove the cloves, then rinse the rice and add it to the cinnamon-infused water.

3. As the rice begins to cook, add the butter and a little salt. Stir frequently to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

4. Do not let the rice dry out. Start adding the milk a few cups at a time. Keep stirring and continue adding more milk as the rice absorbs it.

5. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until the rice is completely soft and cooked. Keep adding milk as needed. The rice pudding should be very creamy and have plenty of milk—it is better for it to be a little too creamy than too dry.

6. Once the rice is fully cooked and the grains have opened up, add the 2 cans of condensed milk. Mix everything well and continue cooking for a few more minutes.

7. Taste it. If you would like it sweeter, add a little sugar.

Mom’s Tip

It is always better to have more milk than less. The rice pudding will continue to thicken as it cools, so don’t worry if it looks a little more liquidy while it is hot.

 Salted Potatoes & Steak

Ingredients

• 10 potatoes

• 1½ pounds of steak

• Soy sauce

• Sliced onions

• Salt

• Pepper

Directions

1. Wash the potatoes very well, but do not peel them. Remove any dirt and the eyes from the potatoes.

2. Place the potatoes in a pot with cold water and cook for about 25 minutes.

3. Check the potatoes with a knife or fork. If the knife does not go through easily, they need more cooking time. They should be tender but not falling apart.

4. Drain all the water. While the potatoes are still warm and slightly wet, sprinkle them generously with salt.

5. Do not cover the potatoes. Let them sit uncovered while you prepare the steak.

Steak

6. Season the steak with salt and pepper and cook it in a hot pan until it reaches your preferred doneness.

7. Add some soy sauce for extra flavor.

8. If you like onions, add sliced onions on top of the steak and let them cook until they become soft and tender.

 

How to Serve

Serve everything warm.

Place the creamy rice pudding in a bowl and serve the salted potatoes and steak on a separate plate.

And now comes my favorite part: take a bite of the salty potatoes and savory steak with a little bit of the sweet rice pudding. The combination of sweet and salty is absolutely delicious!

This is one of those recipes that reminds me of home, my mom, Colombia, and sharing a special meal with my family. 

A little taste of Colombia made with lots of love. ❤️

Hidy is the Assistant Branch Manager in the Greenfield branch.