So what exactly is a dirty horchata? Let’s start with the horchata itself. This best-when-served-chilled-over-ice drink typically calls for soaked rice and water (then blended and strained), cinnamon, and condensed or evaporated milk, although the recipe can vary. The “dirty” in the name comes from the addition of coffee, because, caffeine… and why not combine two delicious beverages into one?
Other popular versions of the basic horchata call for ground-up nuts, seeds, or other grains in place of the rice, and the addition of sweetened condensed milk, sugar, or molasses as a sweetener. While renditions of the drink are cropping up on menus across the country — Starbucks even features a blended option — the beverage originally hails from Central America, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
Yes, the original recipe is certainly creamy and delicious, but blended white rice and sweetened condensed milk aren’t winning any awards for their healthy attributes. Our take on the dirty horchata has fewer calories, less added sugar, and less saturated fat — all the while keeping the creamy sweet flavor, and yes, the caffeine too.
By using pre-made unsweetened rice milk we’re saving you time (i.e., no soaking, blending, or straining rice and water) as well as overall calories. We also used just a touch of coconut cream to keep the thicker texture but reduce the overall amount of saturated fat. The medjool dates add sweetness along with potassium, magnesium, and copper. Enjoy!
Dirty Horchata
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened rice milk
- ½ cup brewed coffee cold
- 1 Tbsp. canned coconut cream
- 2 medjool dates pitted, roughly chopped
- ½ cup ice
- dash ground cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg
Instructions
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Place milk, coffee, coconut cream, and dates into a blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
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Pour over ice. Garnish with cinnamon and nutmeg.
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Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
For a Frappuccino-style horchata, add ice into the blender with milk, coffee, coconut cream, and dates.
The Nutrition Facts box below provides estimated nutritional information for this recipe.
Openfit Blocks
½ Fruits & Vegetables
1½ Fats
1 Other Carbohydrate
Photography by Anguel Dimov, AB Creative
