Horchata is a refreshing beverage enjoyed in Spain and other parts of the world. It is often made with tiger nuts, jicaro, melon or sesame seeds, or white rice, but sometimes, it is made with dairy. This version uses almonds and has a delicious, mildly spiced flavor with a light sweetness provided by dates. It’s the perfect drink to beat the summer heat!
On the Ingredients
- Almonds are not technically a nut but a drupe from a tree in the same subgenus as peaches. But they are commonly known as nuts and are very popular worldwide. Almonds can be used to produce almond milk, oil, butter, flour, paste, or marzipan. They’re very nutrient-dense and are especially high in vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium, as well as antioxidants. (Read more about almonds.)
- Dates are a type of fruit that come from the date palm tree. Dates have been enjoyed in the Middle East for at least 9000 years, and today, they are cultivated across northern Africa, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, Australia, South Asia, and California. Dried dates are a very popular snack and are enjoyed in various savory and sweet preparations. Because of their natural sweetness, they are also a popular method of sweetening treats without processed sugar. The two main types of dates enjoyed in the US are Medjool, plump and sweet, and Deglet, smaller, drier, and milder. Dates are very nutritious and are low on the glycemic index despite their sweetness. (Read more about dates.)
Spanish Almond Horchata (Vegan)
4
servings15
minutes27
hours27
hours15
minutesHorchata is a refreshing beverage enjoyed in Spain and other parts of the world. It is often made with tiger nuts, jicaro, melon or sesame seeds, or white rice, but sometimes, it is made with dairy. This version uses almonds and has a delicious, mildly spiced flavor with a light sweetness provided by dates. It's the perfect drink to beat the summer heat!
Ingredients
10 oz raw almonds
4 cups water (plus more for soaking)
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon (just the peel)
8 Deglet dates OR 4 Medjool dates
- Special equipment
32 oz mason jar
a clean tea towel or nut milk cheesecloth
Directions
- Place the almonds in a 32 oz mason jar and fill with water. Let the nuts soak for 12-24 hours.
- After they're done soaking, drain and rinse the nuts.
- Gently squeeze each almond until the skin pops off. Discard the skins.
- Blend the almonds with 2 cups of water until smooth.
- Put the cinnamon stick and lemon peels in the mason jar, then fill with the almond mixture. Seal and let it stand in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
- Strain the horchata with a clean tea towel or nut milk cheesecloth. Twist the cloth to extract all the liquid from the ground nuts.
- Put the horchata and dates in the blender and blend until smooth. Strain through a sieve to remove any remaining date pieces.
- Add 2 cups of water to the horchata, place it in the mason jar again, and refrigerate until chilled.
- Serve with cinnamon sprinkled on top.
