Besides being a delicious Mexican aqua fresca drink made from water, rice, almonds vanilla, and cinnamon…Horchata is also a cool song from Vampire Weekend:

Horchata

• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 1/4 cup ground, blanched almonds or almond meal
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 6 cups water, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sugar

Put the rice in a blender and grind to a powder for a few minutes. Grind the mixture as smooth as possible. Combine the pulverized rice, almonds and cinnamon stick with two cups of water. Cover tightly and allow to steep overnight.

Remove the cinnamon stick and place the rice mixture in the blender. Blend for 4 or 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and no longer has a gritty texture. Add 2 more cups of water, and blend again for about 15 seconds.

Strain into a pitcher through several layers of dampened cheesecloth or even a coffee filter.

Add 2 more final cups of cold water, the vanilla and sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves. If the mixture is too thick, add some additional water. Horchata should have the consistency of milk. The drink is supposed to be sweet, so taste and add more sugar, if desired.

Cover and refrigerate. Horchata will keep several days, refrigerated. Serve it chilled in tall glasses over ice. Makes 1-1/2 quarts.

Filed under: Food & Drink, Music by Stephen : 3 Comments »