Authentic Horchata Recipe

I was messing around in my kitchen one sunny afternoon and decided to try making horchata using rice, a cinnamon stick, sugar, vanilla and a pinch of salt, and let me tell you it turned out to be the perfect chill drink that totally saved my day.

I love making Authentic Horchata cause it’s so simple yet nutritious. I soak white rice with a cinnamon stick in water then blend with more water, sugar, vanilla and a pinch of salt.

This drink gives natural energy, vitamins and a low fat treat for your day.

Ingredients

• White rice adds energy-providing carbohydrates and a smooth texture to horchata.
• Cinnamon infuses a warm, fragrant spice and offers antioxidants to support your wellbeing.
• Soaking water helps soften rice, releasing flavors and nutrients for better blending.
• Blending water creates a smooth consistency that transforms the mix into a creamy drink.
• Sugar sweetens the horchata, balancing spices with a pleasing taste even if it’s not super healthy.
• Vanilla extract contributes a subtle aroma that rounds out the overall flavor profile.
• A pinch of salt sharpens flavors, ensuring every sip bursts with balanced goodness.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cups water (for soaking)
• 4 cups water (for blending)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

How to Make this

1. Rinse 1 cup of long grain white rice lightly and place it in a bowl with 4 cups of water (for soaking) along with the cinnamon stick. Let it sit for at least 4 hours, or if you prefer, overnight so it gets really flavorful.

2. Once the rice has soaked, take out the cinnamon stick if you want its flavor to be milder, or you can keep it in if you want a stronger taste.

3. Pour the soaked rice with its water into a blender, add another 4 cups of water (the water for blending) to the mix.

4. Blend everything until it looks smooth with some tiny bits of rice still showing. Its okay if it’s not completely smooth.

5. Using a fine mesh strainer or a cheesecloth, strain the mixture into a large pitcher. Press it down gently to squeeze out as much liquid as you can.

6. Stir in 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt into the strained liquid.

7. Taste it and add a little extra sugar if you think it needs more sweetness, just adjust according to your taste.

8. Refrigerate the horchata for at least 1 hour so that it gets really chilled.

9. Before serving, give it a good stir then pour it over ice.

10. Enjoy your homemade horchata as a refreshing treat any time of the day!

Equipment Needed

1. A bowl for soaking the rice with water and the cinnamon stick
2. Measuring cups and spoons to measure out rice, water, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt
3. A blender to blend the soaked rice with additional water
4. A fine-mesh strainer or a cheesecloth to strain the blended mixture into the pitcher
5. A large pitcher to collect the strained horchata and mix in the other ingredients
6. A stirring spoon to mix in the sugar, vanilla extract, and salt
7. A refrigerator to chill the horchata before serving
8. Glasses and ice cubes if you plan to serve it over ice

FAQ

• Q: Can I adjust the amount of sugar in this recipe?
  
  A: Sure, you can tweak the sugar to your taste. If you like it less sweet, try using a bit less than 3/4 cup and then add more later if needed.
• Q: Do I have to use long grain white rice?
  
  A: Yeah, long grain white rice is best for a smooth texture, but if that’s not what you have, you can experiment with other mild white rices, yet it might change the flavor a little bit.
• Q: Is it necessary to use two different water amounts?
  
  A: Yes, soaking the rice and cinnamon in 4 cups water helps release all the flavors, then using another 4 cups while blending keeps the drink from being too thick.
• Q: How long should I let the rice and cinnamon soak?
  
  A: Ideally, soak them for at least 3 hours, but overnight works great too if you have the time. It really help bring out the flavors.
• Q: Can I serve horchata chilled or warm?
  
  A: Horchata is best served chilled. Just pop it in the fridge for a couple of hours. But if you prefer it warmer, you can heat it up just be careful not to overheat.
• Q: How long will the horchata last in the fridge?
  
  A: It will keep for about 2-3 days in the fridge if stored in a clean, sealed container. Give it a good stir before serving cause it might settle a bit.

Authentic Horchata Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• For the long grain white rice, you can use basmati rice if it’s all you have though it might change the flavor a bit
• If you don’t have a cinnamon stick, try using 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in its place
• Instead of granulated sugar, you can substitute honey or agave nectar but you’ll need to adjust the amount since they’re sweeter
• If you missing vanilla extract, a couple of drops of almond extract work fine as a replacement
• In lieu of a pinch of salt, you could simply leave it out if you prefer less salty taste

Pro Tips

Here is a revised version of the horchata recipe with some pro tips thrown in:

1. First, rinse 1 cup of long grain white rice lightly and then put it in a bowl together with 4 cups of water. Add your cinnamon stick to the bowl and let everything soak for at least 4 hours or even better overnight so it becomes super flavorful.
 • Pro tip: Soaking the rice overnight really helps the flavors blend together nicely.

2. After the rice has soaked, you can pull out the cinnamon stick if you want a milder taste or leave it in for a stronger cinnamon kick. Its all up to your taste buds.

3. Next, pour the rice along with its soak water into a blender. Add another 4 cups of water to the mix and blend it until it looks mostly smooth even though you might still see little bits of rice. Its okay if it isnt perfectly smooth.

4. Now, strain the liquid using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large pitcher. Press or squeeze the mixture gently to get as much liquid out as possible.
 • Pro tip: Pressing really well makes your horchata much smoother, so dont rush this step.

5. Stir in 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Do a taste test and if it calls for it, add a bit extra sugar until its just right.
 • Pro tip: Always adjust the sweetness at the end because sometimes the sugar might need a little boost.

6. Finally, chill your horchata in the fridge for at least 1 hour and then give it a good stir before pouring it over ice. Enjoy your refreshing drink any time of the day!
 • Pro tip: Serving the horchata really chilled over ice makes it extra refreshing on a hot day.

Hope you enjoy making this recipe as much as drinking it!