Horchata Recipe

Time3h 20m

Serves4

Sweet rice milk drink with cinnamon.

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Ingredients

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1
Rinse the Rice
In a fine mesh strainer, rinse the long-grain white rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and prevents the horchata from being too thick.
2
Soak the Rice
In a large bowl, combine the rinsed rice and 4 cups of water. Add 2 cinnamon sticks and let the mixture soak for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.

3
Blend the Mixture
After soaking, transfer the rice, water, and cinnamon sticks into a blender. Blend on high speed until the mixture is smooth and the rice is finely ground, about 1-2 minutes.

4
Strain the Rice Mixture
Set a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a large pitcher. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer to separate the liquid from the rice pulp. Use a spatula to press down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible.

5
Add Sweetness and Flavor
To the strained liquid, add 1 cup of sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved.

6
Combine with Milk
Finally, stir in 2 cups of milk (whole or almond) to the mixture. Adjust the sweetness with more sugar if desired.
7
Chill and Serve
Refrigerate horchata for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve over ice and garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon if desired.