Melon Horchata Food

LOLA'S HORCHATA

Steps:

• Pour the rice and water into the bowl of a blender; blend until the rice just begins to break up, about 1 minute. Let rice and water stand at room temperature for a minimum of 3 hours.
• Strain the rice water into a pitcher and discard the rice. Stir the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar into the rice water. Chill and stir before serving over ice.

ALMOND HORCHATA

Steps:

• In a blender combine all horchata ingredients except ice and let stand in blender 5 minutes. Blend mixture on low speed and gradually work up to high speed (use caution when blending hot liquids). Blend mixture on high speed 3 minutes. Add 2 cups ice and blend until melted.
• Pour mixture through a large sieve lined with a double layer of dampened cheesecloth into a bowl, stirring, and discard solids.
• Fill 4 tall glasses with additional ice and horchata and garnish with cinnamon sticks and lime zest. Flavor of horchata improves if made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

CINNAMON HORCHATA

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add cinnamon sticks and let steep for 10 minutes.
• Combine rice and almonds in a blender; blend to the consistency of sand. Transfer to a bowl and mix in cinnamon water. Cover and let sit for 6 hours.
• Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve twice. Save cinnamon sticks but discard almond and rice solids. Add 6 cups cold water, sweetened condensed milk, and cinnamon sticks. Serve over ice.

HORCHATA

Steps:

• Pour sugar, cinnamon, and rice into hot water; stir until sugar dissolves. Cover, and let stand at room temperature for at least 3 hours, but preferably overnight.
• Stir in milk, then puree with a hand blender, or in batches in a standing blender until the rice resembles fine sand. Strain through several layers of cheesecloth, or through a very fine strainer. Serve over ice.

AUTHENTIC HORCHATA

Steps:

• Grind rice into very fine, cornmeal-sized pieces using a blender or coffee grinder.
• Transfer ground rice to a medium bowl, pour warm water on top, and drop in cinnamon sticks. Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Remove the cinnamon sticks. Place mixture back in the blender and puree until as smooth as possible.
• Line a sieve with a couple layers of cheesecloth and strain the mixture. Squeeze cloths to extract as much flavor as possible.
• Stir in milk, sugar, and vanilla extract until sugar has dissolved. Chill completely, at least 2 hours.
• Serve over ice, garnished with cinnamon.

HORCHATA DE MELON

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a blender and whirl until very smooth.
• Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour (and up to 8 hours).
• When ready to serve, strain through a fine sieve and serve over ice cubes.

MELON SEED DRINK (HORCHATA)

Steps:

• Place the melon seeds in a blender and pulverize as finely as possible.
• Combine the pulp, sugar, lime rinds and water in a large jug or bowl.
• Let sit for 4 hours.
• Strain through a cloth extracting all liquid possible.
• Drink and enjoy.

NO WAIT HOMEMADE HORCHATA

Steps:

• Combine rice and water together in saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue to let boil for about 5 minutes.
• Drain water from rice.
• Combine milk and rice and blend together. Strain the milk and rice mixture through cheesecloth.
• Add sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Feel free to use less or more sugar and cinnamon depending on personal preference.
• Add plenty of ice.

LOLA'S HORCHATA

Steps:

• Pour the rice and water into the bowl of a blender; blend until the rice just begins to break up, about 1 minute.
• Let rice and water stand at room temperature for a minimum of 3 hours.
• Strain the rice water into a pitcher and discard the rice.
• Stir the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar into the rice water.
• Chill and stir before serving over ice.

TRADITIONAL HORCHATA

Steps:

• The traditional way to make horchata is with a metate y mano(a tradiotonal type of mortar and pestle). For those of us less adventurous, or simple those with less time, we can use a blender.
• Pulverize the rice using a metate y mano or your blender. Grind the mixture as smooth as possible.
• Combine the rice with the almonds, cinnamon and lime zest. Let this mixture stand overnight or 6 hours minimum.
• Place the mixture in the blender jar and blend for at least 3 - 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and no long has a gritty texture.
• Add 2 cups of water and blend again for just a few seconds.
• Place a large sieve over a mixing bowl.
• Line the sieve with 3 layers of damp cheesecloth.
• Pour in the rice mixture, a little at a time and keep stirring to help the mixture go through the sieve.
• Once all the liquid has passed through to the bowl gather the cloth together at the top, give it a twist and squeeze out any additional liquid.
• Now add 2 more cups of water and stir in as much sugar as you'd like, to taste.
• If the mixture is too thick, add some additional water.
• Cover and refrigerate. The drink should keep several days, refrigerated.
• Serve in a tall glass over ice.

HORCHATA DE PEPITA DE MELóN

Steps:

• Combine the water with the sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.
• Put the cantaloupe seeds and almonds in a food processor or spice grinder and process until completely pulverized, with a flour like texture. Stir the ground seeds and lime zest into the water.
• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Stir, then strain into a pitcher through a sieve or colander lined with cheese-cloth. Strain again, this time pressing the solids with the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Serve over ice.
• To make the dried cantaloupe seeds, cut a cantaloupe in half and scoop out the seeds. Rinse the seeds and drain them thoroughly, then spread them in a single layer and leave them out in the sun to dry for a full day. If you can't dry them outside, put them in the oven at the lowest temperature possible for 4 to 6 hours. Either way, stir them occasionally so they'll dry completely and evenly. You can use the cantaloupe flesh to make an agua fresca. Just blend it with water and sweeten to taste.