Authentic Mexican Horchata Recipe: Strawberry, Chocolate Variations & Serving Tips
A refreshing non-alcoholic naturally creamy authentic Mexican rice drink with 2 ways to mix it up - strawberry horchata and chocolate horchata. and how to drink it with cocktail suggestions.
What is Horchata
Horchata is a Mexican drink made with rice water. By blending rice water you get this super creamy texture which when you flavour with spices becomes an absolute delight. Perfect for summer, autumn, spring, or winter. It’s really an all-rounder. If you’ve never tried it, you need to!
You can find versions of Horchata in many cultures, in Spain, there is a version which uses tiger nuts instead of almonds, you can also find versions without nuts that use seeds instead.
What makes Horchata ‘Authentic’
Search through recipes online and you will see a lot of differing ingredients and methods. Everyone who loves horchata has there very own special recipe and I’m sure, just like them, you will be the same once you’ve made it a few times.
A lot of recipes call for ingredients such as whole milk, or condensed milk. But authentic horchata is generally vegan friendly and lactose free. Which is why I’ve kept this one the same. Vegan friendly and lactose friendly, through a recipe style I call the ‘Frankenstein recipe’.
‘Frankenstein Recipe’
To create this recipe in a way that seems authentic as well as keeping it easy to make with enough space for you to get creative if you want to make changes, I’ve made a few batches from different recipes, I’ve took the parts which I love and took out the parts I didn’t see necessary to create this recipe.
Which is why I call it a ‘Frankenstein recipe’ It’s a bit, Mr potato head, if you will. Taking bits out and replacing bits, till I find something perfect.
Creating your own Horchata Recipe
If you want a Horchata recipe personalised for you and your taste, I’d suggest first making this one, Understanding what each and every element is doing, then making your changes.
The easiest thing to change is the sugar. Adding more or less depending on how sweet you want it.
After that, I’d recommend taking to the milk - perhaps you want to add cows milk, soy milk, oat milk. Almond works great as it’s the nuttiest milk and hey! we’re going to add almonds in it as well, so it works in harmony. Equilibrium.
But if you want to add any other milk you can. Including condensed milk. If you do add condensed milk, I’d recommend either taking the sugar out completely or just cutting back, as condensed milk is sweet enough.
Next you probably want to change the flavouring. More cinnamon, less cinnamon, extra spices. More nuts, less nuts, different nuts, maybe even no nuts!
Strawberry and Chocolate Horchata
For this recipe, I’m not just going to simply give you one recipe. That would be boring, Instead, you’re getting 3.
Authentic Horchata which I think I’ve spoke enough about for the time being… Strawberry Horchata, which is quite a popular twist. And finally, chocolate Horchata, which I stumbled up on by accident playing around with flavours.
Making your own flavoured Horchata is pretty simple, especially with this specific recipe. As there’s quite a lot of wiggle room. It’s a straight authentic tasting Horchata so it works well as a base for any of your creative additions.
Whatever flavour you deem would go well with the creamy texture of Horchata, you can throw in the mix.
The easiest and best way to do this is when it comes to blending (which you will see in the recipe) just blend your Horchata with whatever flavours you want.
Top Tips for making Horchata
Use a GOOD blender. The almonds, rice, cinnamon, they are all hard to blend elements. The better your blender, the creamier the drink. I recommend a blender such as this one from amazon UK, or this one from amazon USA. They’re good value for money and are going to become kitchen essentials - not just Horchata making essentials.
Other blenders I recommend would be Ninja Blenders, in particular this here 2-in-1 blender from the official Ninja website. Now that’s a powerful piece of tech which will last a lifetime!
Speaking of blending. I’d also recommend blending in batches as oppose to shoving everything in at once. You’ll get a good blend that way. That is unless you have the 2-in-1 Ninja blender, then just shove everything in at once.
The longer you soak your rice, the creamier your Horchata will be and the easier it will be to blend. As the rice soaks it absorbs flavour from the cinnamon and softens out. I soak the rice for 24 hours, if you’re in a rush to make your Horchata you could soak for 1 or 2 hours and it would still work. I just find 24 hours makes it that much more delicious, and it splits up the time I’m making it, which I prefer, but I understand not everyone likes waiting.
Final notes on Horchata before we get to that recipe
Horchata, although super creamy is vegan and lactose-friendly, so if you have any lactose intolerant friends or vegan friends, recommend this to them! Not nearly enough vegans know about this. I think they take one look and deem it milk related, its a good surprise for them when they find out its not.
How do I drink Horchata? The best way is to serve cold over ice. But after we run through the recipe, I’ll show you a few ways you can start to enjoy your Horchata including a fantastic cocktail recipe!
How long does Horchata last? In the fridge, about 3 days. But you’ll finish it of way before then, trust me!
Horchata Video Recipe
Horchata Recipe
Authentic Horchata / Strawberry Horchata / Chocolate Horchata Recipes
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large jug or bowl, combine the rice, cinnamon and chopped almonds
- Cover with water and leave to soak overnight
- Strain the mixture and add 4 cups of fresh water
- blend till smooth
- strain then add the sugar, vanilla, and milk
- mix well till the sugar has dissolved then bottle
- Follow the steps for the authentic horchata, however, when it comes to blending, add the strawberries.
- Follow the steps to the authentic Horchata, however, when it comes to blender, add the cacao powder
Notes
Above I gave you 2 ways you can mix it up and introduce secondary flavours to your Horchata, you could also get creative by adding whatever you want when it comes to the blending stage. Coffee, Pineapple, Raspberries, Chilis. Really get creative with it.
Below, I'll show you how to drink your Horchata and how to use it in cocktails.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
327.58Fat
8.72Sat. Fat
0.77Carbs
57.68Fiber
4.58Net carbs
53.1Sugar
22.43Protein
6.7Sodium
110.15Cholesterol
0The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
How to drink Horchata
Simple Serve
The simplest serve and arguably the best is just straight from the fridge and straight over ice.
Horchata Coffee
A way to enjoy horchata i’ve found is by mixing it with coffee. Horchata over ice, topped with a double shot of espresso makes the best iced latte. It’s like a chai latte but a hundred times better. You could also mix the chocolate horchata with coffee for a magical mocha that will change the game.
How To Use Horchata In Cocktails
I’m the cocktail guy, right? I had to use Horchata in a cocktail. It was bound to happen. To which it works absolutely brilliantly in.
It’s the perfect example of how you don’t needs tens of ingredients in every drink. Just 2 or 3 high quality ingredients and you can have a flavour packed cocktail. Like my Horchata Colada…
Horchata Colada
Ingredients
100ml Horchata
50ml Spiced rum
Nutmeg for garnishing
Method
Shake in a Boston shaker filled with ice.
Fine strain into a chilled coupe.
Garnish with a grating of nutmeg over the top
I can also see this working amazingly with Tequila. So you can really get creative with it. Any milky cocktail, replace with Horchata, Like a White Russian. It would work amazing. Once you account for all the flavours you can also infuse in your Horchata the ideas for cocktails really does become endless.
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Hi, I’m Cameron, guv’nor of Smartblend. If you liked this then you’re in luck, I have a bunch more recipes like it. I share only vegetarian and pescatarian food recipes, cocktails, and drink guides with a sprinkling of wellness and mindful drinking. If that sounds like you, then stick around!
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