When in need of a delicious treat that reminds you of home, Rice Shake or Dulce de Leche is the way to go! A classic in Belizean cuisine, I have been eating Rice Shake (some call it Ricelab) since I was toddler. My grandmother and my aunt back in Orange Walk Town make the best Rice Shake- just my personal opinion… and now that I live in San Pedro I rarely get to eat this tasty- and sweet- treat.

So after making a quick phone call to home base and getting the instructions on how to make it, I set on a short journey to gather ingredients. Making Rice Shake is rather simple and doesn’t require much. All you need is a pound of rice, ¼ pound sugar, two cans of sweetened condensed milk, three cinnamon sticks, and a small green pumpkin- locally known as calabasita.

With my ingredients on hand, it’s time to get cooking! You can either leave the pumpkin with the skin or peel it- I like the skin on. After a thorough wash, deseed the pumpkin and dice up into small cubes. Then clean and wash the rice and place it in a pot with the pumpkin. Add enough water for the rice to cook through. Then add in the sugar and the cinnamon stick and put to boil for about 30 minutes.Once the rice is cooked and the pumpkin is tender, remove from the heat and mix in the condensed milk.

I always add some extra sweetness to mines!

Serve either warm or cold and enjoy your Rice Shake!