MEXICAN RICE MILK, HORCHATA MEXICANA

Mexican Rice Milk, Horchata Mexicana image

This rice drink is both refreshing and delicious. It is made with rice, almonds, cinnamon, water, sugar, and vanilla. For more nutrition, in many homes, milk and almonds are added but they are optional. It is very popular in Mexico. Since it is made without milk it will keep in the fridge for days. However, because it is so good,...

Provided by Juliann Esquivel

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 8

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Ingredients

1 1/2 c long grain rice, uncooked
2 qt + 2 cups more water
1 stick cinnamon
1 c sugar or to your liking
1 c fresh milk optional or evaporated milk, optional
1/2 c skinless white almonds blanched, optional
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 medium cheese cloth, important

Steps:

1. First, in a large pot rinse rice two or three times in cool water.
2. Now combine rice and (almonds optional) with about 10 cups of water and a broken-up cinnamon stick. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand overnight, for 24 hours or up to two days. I put mine in the fridge covered and sometimes just leave it in the fridge for two days.
3. After overnight, 24 hours or two days (whichever length of time you chose), remove from the refrigerator and strain the rice and cinnamon sticks from the water. Do not throw the water out.
4. In a blender, process on high about a cup of the rice mixture with a half cup sugar, 1 cup of the rice water, and the soaked cinnamon sticks on high. Process until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture looks very smooth. Pour into a pitcher.
5. Next, do the remaining rice and the rest of the sugar and cinnamon sticks and process again until all is dissolved. (If you chose to soak almonds with your rice then you will have ground the almonds along with the rice as well.) Remember try for a very smooth mixture.
6. Now add all of the rice and almond mixture back into the reserved rice water mix very well. Let stand for about 10 minutes.
7. Now you are ready to strain all of the rice water mixture through a cheesecloth. Put it over another pitcher push down in the pitcher somewhat and I secure the cheesecloth ends over the edge of the pitcher with a very large rubber band all around the outside of the pitcher. I then strain the mixture slowly until all the liquid has been poured back into the pitcher. Remove the cloth discard the contents. Sometimes I strain twice.
8. Now if you like you may add the cup of milk and the vanilla. Stir well and taste for sweetness to your liking. Refrigerate. When nice and cold, serve in tall glasses over ice. Enjoy.
9. In Mexico sometimes after a very hot or spicy meal cool glasses of Horchata are served after the meal to calm and cool the taste buds. Of course, anytime is great to enjoy a refreshing glass of Horchata.
10. I will post my picture tomorrow, as I have rice and soaking in my fridge as I write this. I plan on making the Horchata tomorrow.