We’ve got a soft spot for Aletria, a Portuguese sweet pasta dessert that’s like a pasta version of Sweet Rice, let’s put it that way. Aletria is a favorite for kids of all ages, from 9 to 99. It’s a favorite for everybody who loves pasta and sweets. Want to make it yourself? Here’s an easy guide!

How to make Aletria

Ingredients

• 100 grams of angel hair pasta
• 1 1/3 cup 
• milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3.5 tablespoons butter
• 3 beaten egg yolks
• 1 whole lemon peel
• cinnamon (2 sticks + powder)

Aletria recipe

• Cook the noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes.
• In a separate pan, bring the milk to a boil with the lemon peel, sugar, and cinnamon sticks.
• Add the cooked noodles and bring to a boil, then reduce heat, but keep stirring.
• Add in the butter, take the pan off the heat and leave to cool for 5 minutes continuing to stir.
• Then add the egg yolks making sure to continue stirring so as not to make ‘omelets’
• Once thoroughly mixed, pour everything into a platter, removing the cinnamon sticks and lemon peel. Allow to cool and then decorate with ground cinnamon (creativity is encouraged).

Also, did you know that the thin noodles used in this traditional Christmas dessert were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors in the 8th/9th century? If you want to learn more about Aletria and other Portuguese sweets, join our Porto Food Tour. We’ll gladly share all the tasty information with you.

Bom proveito!
Taste Porto Foodie Team