Arroz con Piña (Agua Horchata with Almond Milk)

If you're looking for a refreshing drink to beat the heat, you should try Arroz con Piña, a traditional Panamanian drink made with pineapple, rice, and almond milk. In this blog post, we'll explore this drink's history and cultural significance and provide you with an easy-to-follow recipe. So grab your ingredients, and let's get started!

In Panama, where I am originally from, we have a massive production of pineapples, and it is one of the most consumed fruits head to head with bananas and mangoes.

Having wide pineapple varieties come with lots of ways to cook them, like turnover cakes, smoothies, and pineapple water.

This sweet rice drink is very close to the Mexican Horchata, also a rice water drink; the reason why is that the Agua Horchata has ancient roots dating back to Africa and Europe.

🤔 What is Horchata?

Horchata is a traditional beverage that is popular in many countries, particularly in Latin America and Spain. The drink is typically made by soaking and blending rice, almonds, or other nuts or seeds, with water and sweeteners such as sugar or cinnamon.

The specific ingredients used and preparation methods can vary depending on the region, but the resulting drink is typically a creamy, milky white color with a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. Some variations of horchata may also include ingredients such as vanilla, coconut, pineapple, or lime to add additional flavor and complexity.

Homemade horchata is often served chilled and can be enjoyed on its own or as a complement to savory or sweet dishes. It is a popular drink during warm weather months or as a refreshing beverage during festive occasions.

Jump to:

• 🤔 What is Horchata?
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🍶 Substitutions
• 📖 Variations
• 🍽 Equipment
• 🫙 Storage
• 💡 Top tip
• ✅ Rice water drink benefits
• ❓ FAQ
• 📋 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews and Comments

🧾 Ingredients

This "horchata de arroz" is made with just a few delicious ingredients.

• Rice - long grain white rice is what is most often used. It adds the characteristic creaminess of this rice drink.
• Pineapple - you only need to use the pineapple rinds, but you can add some extra pineapple chunks if you want the pineapple flavor to be more prominent.
• Cinnamon - add a delicious and characteristic note to this drink. You can use cinnamon sticks or powdered cinnamon.
• Vanilla extract - we use liquid vanilla extract, but you can also use the insides of vanilla beans.
• Sugar - we use coconut or brown sugar to make this recipe as healthy as possible, but you can use any sweetener you like, from white sugar to stevia, without impacting the recipe.
• Plant milk - although the traditional Panamanian Arroz con Piña is made with a can of evaporated milk (Leche Ideal is the most popular brand), to make this horchata vegan, we use either homemade almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, or coconut milk.

See the recipe card for quantities.

🔪 Instructions

This drink involves a couple of simple steps.

Hint: if you don’t have time, you can freeze the pineapple rinds in a bag and make pineapple ginger cucumber lemon water, pineapple tea, or this recipe later. The boiling time will increase by 5 minutes.

Serve with ice cubes, ground cinnamon, shredded coconut, or fresh pineapple chunks.

Hint: if you have popsicles, you can add the liquid into them and make these delicious and wholesome kid-friendly treats.

Read on: how to make pineapple water (fully-explained technique) or see how to do it for this drink on the recipe card.

🍶 Substitutions

• Cinnamon - use powdered cinnamon instead. Just add it when blending instead of boiling cinnamon sticks.
• Plant milk - our preferred choices are almond milk for a nutty taste, coconut milk for a more piña colada taste effect, cashew milk for creaminess, and soy milk to make it extra healthy and protein-packed.
• Sweetener - use any granulated sugar or sweetener you like; some recipes even use sweetened condensed milk. We suggest using date paste, maple syrup, coconut, or brown sugar, as they add a hint of complexity to the flavor compared to any other regular sweetener like agave syrup or erythritol.

📖 Variations

• Spices - you can replace cinnamon or add some other spices to the mix, like pumpkin spice mix. If you don´t love the cinnamon flavor, you can use nutmeg.
• Rice - you can use white rice or brown rice. Since horchata was initially made with barley, you can easily make this ancient grain without affecting much horchata flavor or texture.
• Citrus - instead of using pineapple rinds, you can boil the rice in water, and when blending, add one tablespoon of lime zest.

🍽 Equipment

1. Blender- if you don't have a juicer, you will need a high-speed blender (affiliate link) and,
2. Fine mesh strainer- or nut milk bag just in case you want to make the rice water drink thinner.
3. Large saucepan - to boil the pineapple peeling.

🫙 Storage

Store this carrot juice in a BPA-free (affiliate link), tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can freeze this horchata drink in an airtight container, but it doesn't stand up well to freezing for more than 3 months.

✅ Rice water drink benefits

Rice water, which is the starchy liquid that remains after soaking or cooking rice, has been consumed in some cultures for centuries due to its potential health benefits. Here are some of the potential benefits of drinking rice water:

1. May aid digestion: Rice water contains compounds that can help soothe and heal the digestive system, potentially easing constipation, bloating, and other digestive issues.
2. Horchata may promote hydration: Rice water is a good source of fluids and electrolytes, making it a potentially effective way to stay hydrated.
3. May provide energy: Rice water is a source of carbohydrates, which can provide a quick burst of energy.
4. This rice drink may support immune function: Rice water contains vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, iron, and zinc, which are important for immune function.
5. May help improve skin health: The starch in rice water may have a soothing effect on the skin, potentially improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.

However, it's important to note that these potential benefits are not backed up by much scientific evidence, and more research is needed to confirm them. Additionally, drinking large amounts of rice water could potentially lead to an excess intake of carbohydrates, which may not be ideal for everyone, especially those with diabetes or other blood sugar issues. As with any dietary change, it's best to consult a healthcare professional before adding rice water to your diet.

❓ FAQ

⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

📋 Recipe