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traditional horchata recipe - featured image

Traditional Horchata Recipe: Easy Summer Drink

  • Author: Lara
  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

A creamy, dairy-free, and refreshing traditional horchata made with long-grain white rice, cinnamon, and vanilla. This easy summer drink requires no cooking and tastes like home.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (185g)
  • 4 cups warm water (for soaking)
  • 1 large cinnamon stick (about 3 inches)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
  • Ice (for serving)
  • 2–3 tablespoons condensed milk (optional, for richness)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for dusting)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
  2. Place the rinsed rice in a large bowl. Add the warm water and cinnamon stick. Stir to wet all grains.
  3. Cover the bowl and let it soak at room temperature for at least 3 hours, or overnight for best results.
  4. Pour the soaked rice and water into a blender. Add the vanilla extract.
  5. Blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is milky, white, and smooth with no visible rice grains.
  6. Place a fine-mesh strainer or nut milk bag over a large pitcher or bowl. Pour the blended mixture into the strainer.
  7. Strain the liquid, pressing gently with a spoon or squeezing the bag to extract all the liquid. Discard the rice pulp.
  8. Add the sugar to the strained rice water. Stir vigorously until completely dissolved. Taste and add more sugar if desired.
  9. If using condensed milk, stir it in now.
  10. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill.
  11. Serve over ice in glasses, dusting the top with ground cinnamon if desired.

Notes

Do not use instant rice, jasmine, basmati, or brown rice as they do not provide the correct starch content. Rinse the rice well to prevent cloudiness. For extra flavor, you can lightly toast the cinnamon stick before soaking. The drink keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days; stir well before serving as solids may settle.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Beverage
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 glass (approx. 1 c
  • Calories: 120
  • Sugar: 20
  • Sodium: 5
  • Carbohydrates: 28
  • Protein: 1

Keywords: horchata, traditional horchata, summer drink, dairy-free drink, rice drink, cinnamon drink, refreshing beverage, easy recipe

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Find it online: https://alldinnerecipes.com/traditional-horchata-recipe-easy-summer-drink/