Why it works: Cinnamon and nutmeg match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 11,917 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓
Arroz Con Leche
Ingredients
Directions
Cook the rice
Cook rice uncovered in 8 cups of water for 45 minutes until rice is quite soft.
Finish and serve
Stir in other ingredients and simmer for 1/2 hour.
Serve warm, or refrigerate at least four hours to serve cold.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 10 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | 1 cup cooked (158g) white | 206 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Grape | 1/2 cup (76g) | 62 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Vanilla | 1 tsp extract (4ml) | 12 |
| Nutmeg | 1 tsp ground (2.2g) | 12 |
| Cloves | 1 tsp ground (2g) | 7 |
| Clove | 1 tsp ground (2g) | 7 |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp ground (2.6g) | 6 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Cinnamon + nutmegtop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together11,917 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Cinnamon + clovetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together14,189 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
-
Clove + nutmegtop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together8,686 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Vanilla + cinnamontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,287 recipes
Shared aroma: 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (sweet, anise).
-
Rice + cinnamontop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,137 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Rice
- Its starch thickens the milk and gives the pudding a soft, tender body.
- Milk
- Provides the liquid and milk proteins that make the pudding creamy as it thickens.
- Sugar
- Adds sweetness and helps keep the pudding soft and moist.
- Butter
- Adds fat for richness and a smoother, silkier mouthfeel.
- Raisins
- Add pockets of chewy sweetness throughout the pudding.
- Vanilla
- Adds aroma that rounds out the dairy and spice flavours.
The step that matters
Simmering after adding the other ingredients. Milk and sugar can scorch and stick to the bottom of the pan over a half hour of simmering. Stir often over gentle heat so the pudding thickens evenly and does not burn.
Swap the clove
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (rice, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter):
- Cardamomfits better
- Clovethe original
- Allspicefits less well
- Gingerfits less well
Fit is the average pairing score against rice, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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