Horchata (Chilled Almond Drink)
The Moorish original of horchata was made with pine nuts, seeds and chufas or tiger nuts (which aren't nuts, but a tuberous root) and used as a 'pick-me-up'. Almonds can also be used instead of tiger nuts, and the drink can be found freshly made in horchaterias and ice cream parlours, chilled and delicious on baking hot days. As early as the 16th century, snow was used to chill fruit drinks, so it was quite a labour-intensive luxury.
Ingredients
- 2 cups blanched almonds coarsely chopped
- 3 tablespoons caster sugar
- freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
- extra crushed ice to serve
- ground cinnamon for dusting
Instructions
- Put the almonds, sugar and 8 1/2 floz water in a blender and grind as finely as possible. Pour into a jug or bowl and add 1 pint boiling water.
- Set aside to infuse for several hours until completely cold. Strain through a fine-mesh nylon sieve into a jug or bowl, pressing the liquid through with the back of a ladle. Stir in the lemon juice and pour into a freezerproof container.
- Freeze for about 1 hour until crystals start to form. Stir well and serve in tall glasses with extra crushed ice, if using, and a dusting of cinnamon.
Calories: 405 kcal
Carbohydrates: 21 g
Protein: 13 g
Fat: 33g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Sodium: 12 mg
Potassium: 420 mg
Fiber: 6 g
Sugar: 12 g
Vitamin A: 5 IU
Vitamin C: 3 mg
Calcium: 148 mg
Iron: 2 mg