Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (2024)

FAQs

Is horchata made from almond milk? ›

The Mexican version of horchata is typically made creamy using dairy products such as condensed milk, evaporated milk, or whole milk, but it's not uncommon for traditional versions to be made plant-based with almond milk in place of cow's milk.

As almond milk is made from seeds (yep, technically they are seeds, not nuts), they are in theory completely vegan, and as they are not generally not sweetened or altered with animal byproducts like honey, it is understood as vegan.

Horchata is a sweet rice drink that is very popular not only in Mexico but also in the US! Most people know of the dairy version with evaporated and condensed milk, but horchata can also be made dairy-free. Mexican horchata is typically made with rice, water, cinnamon, milk, and sugar.

Not always, most Horchata recipes are made from rice milk and regular cow milk to add a creamy texture to the drink, so they are not vegan.

The rice adds a starchy or chalky quality, and perhaps to compensate, most taquerias use a very heavy hand with the sugar. But the rice flavor is also part of horchata's charm, and this version inspired by GCM vendors reduces the sweetness—a bit.

Truth is there are two major kinds of horchata (Spanish and Mexican) and they're as similar as they are different. As in both are cold, milky, sweet beverages but they're made with different ingredients.

The original horchata from Valencia, Spain is made from chufa, or tiger nuts, water, sugar and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. Tiger nuts didn't grow in the Americas when the Spanish arrived, so the Spanish used different nuts, seeds and grains to recreate horchata in their colonies.

Long-Grain Jasmine Rice Makes A Great Horchata Base

Basmati and jasmine rice are both types of long-grain white rice, but jasmine rice is a slightly better fit due to its plump, pliant texture and slightly sweet taste.

What is the healthiest milk alternative for vegans? ›

Soy Milk. Soy milk is the OG of non-dairy milk and is made by soaking soybeans (which have been hulled and ground) in water. Soybeans contain essential amino acids, high levels of protein, and iron, and soy milk has lower fat and cholesterol levels than cow's milk. Soy milk has a subtly sweet, creamy, and mild flavor.

Soy milk contains more protein than almond milk. Soy milk contains more heart healthy polyunsaturated fats. Almond milk is lower in calories compared to soy milk, and contains more heart healthy monounsaturated fats. Almond milk contains slightly more sodium than soy milk, and both milks do not contain lactose.

Horchata is a sweet Mexican drink made from rice. Horchata is made by blending white rice and cinnamon sticks in water and letting them soak overnight. After the rice and cinnamon are discarded, the remaining liquid is then flavored with vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon.

Meaning of horchata in English. a drink made from nuts or rice, that looks like milk and is drunk in Spain and Latin American countries, or a glass of this drink: Valencia is also known for its horchata.

Refreshing Oatmeal Drink (Agua de Avena)

"This is a refreshing drink from Mexico that is very similar to horchata but healthier and easier to make! Serve cold," says recipe creator Becky Perez.

While the recipes may vary, it is a relatively simple beverage, requiring few ingredients. In general, horchata is a sweet, dairy-free beverage that is made via a process of soaking grains, nuts, or seeds overnight in water. This mixture is then drained, and sugar or other spices are added to sweeten the beverage.

Across South America horchata is made with rice and/or sesame seeds, melon seeds, peanuts, almonds, or cashews. For this homemade almond-and-rice milk horchata recipe, we roast the nuts for maximum toasted flavor (though you can skip this step if you prefer).

Almond milk is lower in calories and carbs compared to rice milks. It's also one of the lowest glycemic index milks, which means it's not as likely to spike your blood sugar compared to rice milk, which is among the highest-carb milk options.

Horchata (/ɔːrˈtʃɑːtə/; Spanish: [oɾˈtʃata]), or orxata ( Valencian: [oɾˈtʃata]), is a name given to various beverages, which are generally plant based, but sometimes contain animal milk. In Spain, it is made with soaked, ground, and sweetened tiger nuts.