How To Make Horchata

Horchata is a Mexican rice water drink that I have loved since I don’t know when.  It was probably about eight years ago when my Tia Sandra taught me how to make it.  She’s the only one in our family who makes it.

One day I was at her house and I opened the fridge to get something and saw a bowl of rice with a cinnamon stick in it.  I asked her “Tia what’s that for?”  She answered “oh I’m making Horchata later” and she turned and continued working in the kitchen.  My head spun back to the bowl then back to her so quick!  I said, “I didn’t know you knew how to make Horchata Tia!”  She replied “oh yeah, my mother-in-law showed me a long time ago.”

For a brief moment I was in heaven.  This was many moons before my blogging and kitchen days so this to me was a gift because I LOVE HORCHATA.  The method she taught me was to soak the rice and cinnamon stick in water in the fridge overnight, but I’m too impatient for that method.  When I want Horchata I want it that day, so I tweaked the directions a little.
Bring 4 of the 8 cups of water to a boil.

Once it starts boiling, turn off the heat, remove the water from the burner, and add the rice.

Give the rice a quick stir and let it sit for 30-40 minutes to soak.

Combine the condensed milk with the remaining 4 cups of water.  Stir well, set aside.

After 30 or 40 minutes, pour the water with rice and cinnamon stick into the blender and blend for at least a minute, or until the rice and cinnamon resemble a coarse sandy texture.Add the remaining water with condensed milk to the blender.  Blend again to combine well.

Pour all the rice water through a strainer into a wide mouthed pitcher or large bowl.

At this point you can taste it to see if it’s sweet enough for you.  To make it sweeter, you can either add more condensed sweetened milk, or regular sugar.

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How to make Horchata

A refreshing summer Mexican drink

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 8 cups

Author Stephanie Chavez

Ingredients

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 8 cups filtered water

Instructions

1. Bring 4 of the 8 cups of water with the cinnamon stick to a boil. Once it starts boiling, turn off the heat, remove the water from the burner, and add the rice. Give the rice a quick stir and let it sit for 30-40 minutes to soak.
2. In a large pitcher, combine the condensed milk with the remaining 4 cups of water. Stir well, set aside.
3. After 30 or 40 minutes, pour the water with rice and cinnamon stick into the blender and blend for at least a minute, or until the rice and cinnamon resemble a coarse sandy texture. Add the remaining water with condensed milk to the blender. Blend again to combine well. Pour all the rice water through a strainer into a wide mouthed pitcher or large bowl.
4. At this point you can taste it to see if it’s sweet enough for you. To make it sweeter, you can either add more condensed sweetened milk, or regular sugar. Give everything a GOOD stir, and serve on the rocks!