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Friday, July 6, 2012

Coconut Horchata (Horchata de Coco)

Well, it's official.  I cannot walk through a grocery store on a 101° day without purchasing at least 3 containers of cold drinks and 2 or 3 random boxes of ice cream or ice cream novelties.  It's like my thirst is never quenched.  But that is what you get when your car does not have a working air conditioner.  And the driver's side window does not roll down.  It makes me want to cry.  But I can't cry, because all the water is coming out of my body in the form of sweat.

Therefore, cold drinks are consumed in massive quantities.

Earlier, the hubs asked me what was for dinner.  I don't if it was the look on my face or the shrug of my shoulders, but he took it upon himself to order tacos and tortas from our favorite local Mexican restaurant.
Hooray for not heating up the kitchen!  And hooray for that tall, white, styrofoam cup that he set in front of me when he brought it all home!

Why hooray?  Because the liquid that ice was sloshing around in is one of my favorite agua frescas.  Horchata!  There's not much like washing down a Torta con Milanesa de Pollo with a cold glass of lightly sweetened, cinnamon-scented rice water.
And I realize now that I've never posted "regular" horchata here on this site.  It's another one of those usual suspects that gets made fairly regularly and therefore slips through the cracks.  So that is a post for another day.  Today I bring you a different version of horchata.  Not the one the hubs brought me today.  But the one that I made a few days ago and is already long gone...the reason why he had to bring me some today.

And this one...it uses coconut.  It's not overwhelming, just perfectly refreshing.  And it's a great way to stay cool and hydrated in the heat!

Coconut Horchata (Horchata de Coco)

by Heather Schmitt-González
Prep Time: overnight
Cook Time: n/a
Keywords: blender beverage vegetarian rice coconut milk Mexican

Ingredients (1½ quarts)
  • 1¼ c. raw white rice
  • 1 lime (zest only)
  • 5 c. water, divided + more as needed
  • 1 (14 oz.) can coconut milk
  • ¾ c. superfine sugar
  • ice cubes, to serve
Instructions
Cut the zest from the lime in one (or two) long strip, leaving as much of the pith (white part) behind as you can. Place it in a medium-sized bowl along with rice and 2½ cups of the water. Stir and cover with plastic. Let stand overnight.

Transfer everything in the bowl to the jar of a blender. Blend for several minutes, or until you can rub a drop between your fingers and it no longer feels very gritty.

Add 2 cups water and blend for another minute. Set a strainer lined with a double layer of damp cheesecloth over a clean bowl or pitcher. Pass the mixture through the cheesecloth-lined strainer. Once all the liquid has gone through, gather up the corners of the cheesecloth and twist to release any liquid.

Stir in remaining ½ cup of water, coconut milk, and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. If consistency seems too thick, add a bit more water. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve over ice cubs in tall glasses, stirring before serving.

slightly adapted from Fiesta at Rick's
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Would you like to comment?

  1. This sounds quite yummy. I love coconut flavored things. I do hope you post the regular recipe soon. My son loves horchata!

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  2. 104...so over the heat and so wish I had this.

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  3. Heather this is very interesting. We have several fermented dishes and batters with rice but they are all cooked and steamed.... will try.
    Any special rice? Thanks!

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  4. Wow, looks yum! Interesting, using raw rice! This is definitely something new to me. And the can coconut milk must certainly added the milky sweetness! Would love to have a glass!

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  5. Coconut Horchata!!! One of my favorites! Especially with a shot of rum. ;)


    Love that you used Loteria cards as part of your background for the pics. :)

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  6. I have never tried horchata before. This looks pretty tasty so I may have to try it soon :-)

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  7. I hope the temperature goes down soon. Very interesting drink. It's refreshing even just looking at the photos.

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  8. I will. It's in my mind now, so I won't forget! =)

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  9. Thanks Shri...not necessarily any special rice, plain white probably works best (any size grain). You're looking for the starch that it gives off. Hope you enjoy!

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  10. Gracias, amiga. I though it would be a fun backdrop for the all white horchata =)

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  11. Coconut horchata is something new..never heard about it..sounds interesting..now we are in winter here..will try it out in summer..

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  12. This seems like a perfect treat during the summer heat!

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  13. I LOVE horchata and have made it with almonds, but coconut sounds absolutely delightful! Can't wait to try it.

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  14. I have seen horchata before but must admit I have never had it. It always sounds and looks incredible, guess I need to give it a try :) thanks for the recipe as I love coconut

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  15. Natashya Kitchen PuppiesJuly 7, 2012 at 4:19 PM

    I really need to remember to send these links to Melody - she loves milky drinks but can't tolerate milk - this would be so deliciously perfect for her!

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  16. I've never had anything like this...I'm fascinated!

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  17. Mary | Deep South DishJuly 7, 2012 at 6:20 PM

    Sounds refreshing! I cannot imagine having to travel in a car without an air conditioner down here on the Gulf Coast so my sympathies there for sure! The humidity has kept me bound up in my house like a bat & I've been devouring iced tea, watermelon & other frozen things like there's no tomorrow myself! I am SO ready for cooler weather. I hope we have a winter down south this year.

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  18. My sympathies! I too have a car without working air conditioning and the last week has been incredibly tough because of it. I usually just bring a cooler of ice water with me everywhere I go, but it sounds like fun to try this recipe!

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  19. This heat is stifling!! This horchata has my interest piqued for sure. Will have to try this one day!

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  20. This is amazing. Must try it out. Thanks.
    I am hosting Kitchen Chronicles Theme Go Nuts... till 15th
    July.Do send me your entries

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  21. Lyndsey@TheTinySkilletJuly 8, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    It is cooler down here in Florida than it is in the rest of the country...just brushing 90 degrees. We haven't had our normal humidity either, I'll be the snowbirds are sorry they left FL, w never reach 100, here on the coast anyway! We can get horchatas easy right around the corner from us. This one sounds very interesting. Ill have to try it. I do like to make my own so I can make it less sweet they way I like it. I love your photo!

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  22. It's been absurdly hot here also and all i want is smoothies and milkshakes!! And to not cook. Ever. Again.

    But I do want these now. They are going to be my new dinner.

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  23. I'm going to have to give this one a try! It looks so refreshing and just the thing to cool things off!

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  24. I have to try making horchata one of these days. I've only ever had it a couple of times. I love the look of this coconut one--so refreshing. ;-)

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  25. love,love tortas with horchata! I need to try this soon! My car window was like that for 2 weeks, I refused to drive anywhere in the afternoon for fear of melting away, it sucked!

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  26. This looks amazingly delicious! I can't wait to give this one a try! So happy to have found you on la cocina de leslie's post!

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