Arroz con Piña Recipe (Pineapple and Rice Drink)

Try this refreshing drink perfect for summer made mainly with pineapple peels and rice. Arroz con piña, as we call it in Panama, is a great way to use up all your pineapple!

You bought a lot of pineapples, and you have a hill of peels, and you are going to throw them away, stop there. Did you know that you can use the skins to make a delicious drink?

When I buy the whole pineapple, I run it through plenty of water. Then I peel it. Store the peel in a ziplock bag and freeze it. So I can use it to make my pineapple rice chicha (my mom taught me this trick).

💡 Tip: Freeze the pineapple peel if you are not going to use it in the next two days after peeling. 

Today I am going to explain how to make a refreshing Panamanian drink, perfect for those hot summer days.

📋 Ingredients for the recipe

To prepare this recipe, you will need: the peel of one pineapple, white rice, sugar, cinnamon (a stick and powder), evaporated milk, and vanilla.

As for utensils, we will use a blender, a spoon or ladle, and a large pot.

Once you have all the ingredients and utensils on hand, let’s start.

📝 How to make this refreshing drink? – Step by Step

Step 1: Add the pineapple peels, the rice, and the cinnamon stick in our large pot (photo 1).

Step 2: Fill with water to cover the ingredients, approximately 1.5 liters of water (photo 2).

Step 3: Simmer for 30 minutes over medium-low heat, or until the rice has been cooked. You will see the rice grain swells a lot due to the amount of water (photo 3).

Step 4: Once the rice is done, turn off the heat and remove the pineapple peels and the cinnamon stick (photo 4).

At home, my mom used to blend everything except the cinnamon stick, and then pass the mixture through a sieve.

This method was a little labor intensive because of the straining, but you can get the same result with less hassle by following the next steps.

Step 5: Transfer the ingredients (rice and the liquid) from the pot into a blender (photo 5).

Step 6: Add the evaporated milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and a cup of water (photo 6).

Step 7: Blend the mixture, be careful since it’s hot. If it is too thick, you can add more water to dilute (photo 7). Adjust the sugar to taste if necessary, it should taste sweet, but not overpowering like candy.

Step 8: Store in the blender in the fridge to chill or serve with a lot of ice and enjoy it!

Storage and other tips

Storage: Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It never lasts that long at home, and It just gets drank all by dinner time. 😂

Advance Preparation: You can make the day before and store it in the fridge, so it is chilled. 

This beverage is great for any time of the day, in Panama we drink it with our meals in some occasions. If you prefer you can also try other drinks like iced tea.

💡 Tip: If you have popsicle molds, fill them out with the drink and freeze, they will result in delicious pineapple and rice (arroz con piña) popsicle perfect for summer days and the kids.

If you try this pineapple and rice drink recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a comment below and tell us about your experience. We love reading about what you are preparing at home.

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