Rick Baylesss Horchata Recipes

HORCHATA

Steps:

• Grind the raw, unwashed rice in a blender on high speed into a fine powder. Transfer to a medium bowl and whisk in 5 cups room temperature water. Add the canela, cover and let it sit at room temperature for 8 hours and up to 24.
• Removed the canela and snap into two 1-inch pieces. Vigorously whisk the rice mixture until the rice is evenly distributed. Transfer to a blender, add the reserved canela pieces and puree on high speed for 10 minutes; the mixture will get hot and the rice will soften and start to ''cook '' and release more flavor. Add the sugar and 3/4 teaspoon salt and puree until dissolved, about 30 seconds.
• Strain the rice mixture through a fine mesh sieve lined with several layers of cheesecloth into a large bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible (you should have about 3 1/2 cups). Reserve the solids for another use (like cream-of-rice porridge). Stir in 3 cups very cold water. Serve over ice with a sprinkle of ground canela or cinnamon on top.

RICK BAYLESS'S HORCHATA

Steps:

• The night before serving, pulverize the rice in a spice grinder. Transfer to a large bowl and add the almonds and cinnamon stick. Stir in 2 1/2 cups hot tap water, cover, and let stand for at least 6 hours.
• Remove cinnamon stick and discard. Puree the mixture in a blender until no longer gritty, about 4 minutes. Add 2 cups water and blend for a few seconds more. Set a large sieve lined with 3 layers of dampened cheesecloth over a medium bowl. Pour the almond rice mixture in, a little at time, stirring gently to help the liquid pass through, and then gather up the corners of the cheesecloth and squeeze out all the liquid. Stir sugar and salt into the strained liquid. If the consistency is too thick, add water. Cover and refrigerate. Stir before pouring into glasses.

HORCHATA

Steps:

• Put the rice, almonds (if using) and 8 cups water into a large pitcher or bowl. Cover container and let soak overnight (at least 8 hours) at room temperature.
• Remove 4 cups liquid from the rice and almonds; reserve. Transfer the remaining liquid, rice and almonds to a blender, and blend, in batches if necessary, until solids are finely ground, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour the ground rice and almond mixture into the strainer. Use a spoon to press the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. (You could also strain the liquid through a cheesecloth if you want your horchata to be extra smooth.) Discard the solids. Transfer the strained liquid to a large pitcher (or keep it in the bowl) and mix in the reserved 4 cups liquid from Step 2.
• Add sugar and cinnamon, and stir well. Serve over ice and dust with ground cinnamon, if desired.