Horchata

[poli]

This is a soft drink whose ingredients change greatly from one place to another. In Mexico and Southern California it's a refreshing drink made of cooked rice, vanilla and ice. In Colombia it's made of sesame seeds. In Italy orzata is made of almands. In Spain?

[pjt33]

In Valencia from chufa (tigernut).

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

It can also be made with rice flour or dried melon seeds, but I haven't tasted it with vanilla. We use cinnamon.

[chileno]

The very fisrt day in the US, I decided to go out and walk down the street. I found a Salvadorian place that said they sold "horchata". In Chile, we know the Italian "orchata" so I ordered a glass of it. Little did I know... :-)

[poli]

Dried melon seeds sounds interesting. Good Mexican food is really sophisticated. That's right Angela, cinnamon. I forgot cinnamon. I made it with rice, cinnamon and vanilla extract when a vegan rice pudding experiment of mine wasn't successful. I threw it in the blender with ice and rice milk. It was pretty good

Hernan, did you like the Salvadorian version?

[Elaina]

Well, I think there are two dishes being described here.

Horchata - made with raw rice that is soaked until tender and placed in the blender with cinnamon, sweetened milk (condensed milk) some vanilla, strained and cooled with ice and tastes quite yummy

BUT

Arroz con leche - made with cooked rice cinnamon, milk and very similar ingredients. This can be eaten hot or cold.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

Hernan, did you like the Salvadorian version?

Not at all, in those days anyway. Now I can take it any day. :-)

I miss the almond orchata, though. I would make An orchata frappe with orchata, milk and crushed ice.

[poli]

Hernan, I think you can get orazata syrup in Italian specialty food stores and definitely on-line. What, no comment on that hochata salvadoreña? You are a diplomat.

Yes Elaina there is a big difference between arroz con leche and Mexican horchata, but I turned a failed 'healthy" arroz con leche experiment into a passable refreshing horchata through the miracle if ice, rice milk, and an osterizer. I just put it on medium and it did all the work.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Poli: ¡Genial! A mí no se me hubiera ocurrido, pero qué bueno que funcionó.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by chileno

Not at all, in those days anyway. Now I can take it any day. :-)

I miss the almond orchata, though. I would make An orchata frappe with orchata, milk and crushed ice.

Originally Posted by poli

Hernan, I think you can get orazata syrup in Italian specialty food stores and definitely on-line. What, no comment on that hochata salvadoreña? You are a diplomat.

Not so much of a diplomat, I guess you missed my answer...

Yes, I guess I'll have to find me an Italian store and see. Thanks for the idea!