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.

Is authentic horchata vegan? More often, it is not made vegan. Most horchata drinks will be made out of rice to follow the traditional recipe, but now, they will also often include some cow's milk or condensed dairy milk to make it creamier. Thus, they are usually not dairy-free.

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.

Horchata is so standard at Mexican joints that it's easy to assume the drink has Mexican roots. 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.

I always thought horchata was safe for a lactose-intolerant person like me, since it's traditionally made with rice milk. But more and more often, when I encounter horchata in L.A. and ask to make sure it's dairy-free, the answer is no.

Almond and soy milk are both vegan, naturally lactose-free, and low cholesterol, but there are differences in their health benefits, nutrient content, and environmental impact. In this article, we look at the different benefits and disadvantages of almond and soy milk.

Why do vegans drink almond milk? ›

Some people choose to avoid dairy milk for religious, health, environmental, or lifestyle reasons, such as veganism ( 30 ). Since almond milk is plant-based, it's naturally dairy-free, which makes it vegan-friendly. It's suitable for most people who want or need to limit dairy.

Horchata (pronounced or-CHAH-tah) is a popular Mexican drink that is often described as a sweet rice milk beverage. Horchata is made out of rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon and is served in many Mexican restaurants.

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).

One key difference between rice milk and almond milk is their protein content. Almond milk contains more protein than rice milk, which can be beneficial for those looking to increase their protein intake. However, rice milk is a good option for those with nut allergies or sensitivities, as it is nut-free.

However, Jennifer Feltham, one of the owners of Sonoratown in downtown L.A., said, “Real horchata isn't supposed to have dairy. But it's easier, cheaper and involves less labor to use cow milk because you get that creamy texture without all the work of soaking, blending, then straining out the rice.”