Horchata Recipe – Two Ways (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in horchata? ›

Horchata (pronounced or-CHAH-tah) is a popular Mexican drink that is often described as a sweet rice milk beverage. Horchata is made out of rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon and is served in many Mexican restaurants.

Truth is there are two major kinds of horchata (Spanish and Mexican) and they're as similar as they are different. As in both are cold, milky, sweet beverages but they're made with different ingredients.

Long-Grain Jasmine Rice Makes A Great Horchata Base

Basmati and jasmine rice are both types of long-grain white rice, but jasmine rice is a slightly better fit due to its plump, pliant texture and slightly sweet taste.

Place the rice on a fine-mesh sieve and rinse until the water runs clear. Transfer the rice to a large bowl and add the cinnamon with 1 quart (4 cups) of cold water. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours.

The original horchata from Valencia, Spain is made from chufa, or tiger nuts, water, sugar and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. Tiger nuts didn't grow in the Americas when the Spanish arrived, so the Spanish used different nuts, seeds and grains to recreate horchata in their colonies.

Meaning of horchata in English

a drink made from nuts or rice, that looks like milk and is drunk in Spain and Latin American countries, or a glass of this drink: Valencia is also known for its horchata.

The Moors then brought horchata to West Africa and Spain in the 8th century. As it spread through Spain, France, and England, the drink continued to be enjoyed both for its refreshing quality and for its perceived health benefits. The concept of horchata then spread from Spain to Mexico in the course of colonization.

The smooth, creamy cinnamon taste of Mexico's cold milky beverage can now be found in a variety of food products. Typically made from rice, grains or nut milks, horchata is a favorite beverage in Mexican restaurants. In addition to cinnamon, vanilla is a common ingredient.

Use an airtight container to store your horchata, as this helps keep it fresh for longer. Do not let horchata sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as this could encourage bacterial growth.

Why is my horchata gritty? ›

In starchy horchatas, the starch grains are detectable on the tongue; so a rice (or barley or other grains with which you choose to experiment) horchata will always be a little grittier, a little less creamy, and more likely to settle out than one based on fattier nuts or seeds.

Cold water- more water will need to be added to the horchata at the end to thin it out a bit. Be careful not to add too much- remember that it will be served over ice which will water it down a bit more.

This homemade horchata will keep for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. However, I find that it's best enjoyed the day it is made!

This version you see here consists of rice, toasted almonds, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, salt and a bit of vanilla, All of these ingredients are soaked in water for about 4 hours or overnight. This softens all of the ingredients and then when it's blended, it all marries together.

A pitcher of horchata will keep fresh in the fridge for about 4 days. Just remember to not let it sit at room temperature for longer than 30 minutes. Keep the mixture chilled as much as possible.

Horchata has long been enjoyed for its health benefits, both perceived and real. Generally speaking, horchata is low in fat and rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are great for your skin and hair and can help to reduce inflammation in the body.

Mexican horchata is typically made with rice, water, cinnamon, milk, and sugar. Traditional Mexican horchata is made without dairy- this is actually the kind of horchata my abuela grew up drinking, and the recipe I am sharing with you today was passed down from my great grandmother!

Horchata is a milky drink made of rice, almonds or tiger nuts. It's popular in Latin America and Spain. Different countries will use a different base ingredient. Spanish horchata is made with tiger nuts, while Mexican horchata is usually made with rice.

Is Horchata Vegan? Not always, most Horchata recipes are made from rice milk and regular cow milk to add a creamy texture to the drink, so they are not vegan.