Horchata

Name: Horchata
Prep time: 240 min
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed; 4 cups water; 1 cinnamon stick; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (for serving)

A classic Mexican rice-based agua fresca sweetened with sugar and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. Creamy, cold, and wonderfully refreshing.

240 minEasyServes 4150 cal/serving

MexicanNon-Alcoholic DrinkBlenderVeganVegetarianKosher-styleGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeNightshade-Free

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Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (for serving)

Instructions

1

Rinse 1 cup rinsed long-grain white rice. Combine with 1 cinnamon stick in a bowl. Pour in 4 cups water and let soak at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
2

Transfer the soaked rice, cinnamon stick, and all soaking liquid to a blender. Blend on high for 2 minutes until smooth.
3

Strain the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large pitcher, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
4

Stir in the remaining 4 cups water, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tsp pure vanilla extract until the sugar dissolves.
5

Refrigerate until cold. Serve over ice, dusted with a pinch of 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (for serving).

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Questions

Do I need to rinse the grain for Horchata?

Step 1 reads: "Rinse 1 cup rinsed long-grain white rice." Yes. Step 1 washes off what coats the grain: surface starch on rice, which makes it clump and turn gummy, or the bitter natural coating on quinoa. Rinse until the water runs mostly clear.

What equipment do I need for Horchata?

Beyond a knife and a board, the method uses cheesecloth (step 3) and a fine-mesh sieve (step 3). If you do not have one, a clean thin dish towel replaces the cheesecloth.

How many calories are in Horchata?

One serving (the recipe makes 4) is about 150 calories, with 2 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate and 1 g fat, plus 30 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Can I batch Horchata for a group?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Halved, the rice drops from 1 cup to 1/2 cup; doubled, it is 2 cups. Every line in this entry carries its half and double quantity, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. To make a pitcher, multiply everything and stir over ice at the end.

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