Portuguese Aletria (Sweet Noodle Pudding)

Aletria is a traditional Portuguese sweet noodle dish, often served as a dessert or a festive treat. It is made with thin vermicelli noodles, milk, sugar, and flavored with cinnamon and lemon. Here’s how to make this comforting and delicious dish.

Ingredients:

• 200g (7 oz) thin vermicelli noodles (or angel hair pasta)
• 1 liter (4 cups) whole milk
• 1 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Zest of 1 lemon (or orange)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 2 large egg yolks
• Ground cinnamon, for garnish
• Optional: raisins or chopped nuts for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook the Noodles:

   • In a large pot, bring a salted pot of water to a boil. Add the vermicelli noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. Prepare the Milk Mixture:

   • In the same pot, combine the milk, sugar, cinnamon stick, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Heat over medium heat until it comes to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.

3. Add the Noodles:

   • Once the milk mixture is simmering, add the drained noodles to the pot. Stir gently to combine and let cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the noodles to absorb the milk and flavors.

4. Thicken with Egg Yolks:

   • In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks. Slowly add a ladle of the hot noodle mixture to the egg yolks while whisking continuously (this tempering prevents the eggs from curdling).
   • Gradually stir the tempered egg yolk mixture back into the pot with the noodles. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly.

5. Serve:

   • Remove the cinnamon stick and lemon zest from the pot. Transfer the aletria to a serving dish or individual bowls.
   • Allow it to cool slightly, then sprinkle with ground cinnamon and garnish with raisins or nuts if desired.

6. Chill or Serve Warm:

   • Aletria can be served warm or chilled. If serving cold, refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Tips:

• Flavor Variations: Feel free to experiment with flavors by adding vanilla extract or almond extract.
• Serving Suggestions: Aletria can be served as is or drizzled with a bit of honey for extra sweetness.

Enjoy this traditional Portuguese dessert that’s both comforting and delightful!