• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Caramel Tinted Life logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Work With Me
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Drinks » Instant Pot Horchata

    Instant Pot Horchata

    Published: Jul 29, 2019 · Modified: May 23, 2020 | This post may contain affiliate links·

    800 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Instant Pot Horchata

    Horchata, a delicious and refreshing drink made in Spain and Latin America, is perfect for a hot summer day. This quick and easy Instant Pot Horchata is inspired by the Mexican rice-based Horchata, and is made in under 30 minutes!

    So what exactly is horchata? There are so many versions of this drink, that it would be hard to declare one particular version as authentic. The Spanish version of horchata is made with water, sugar, cinnamon and tiger nuts while the Mexican version is made with rice, water, cinnamon and sugar. Milk or condensed milk is optional, and makes for a creamier version of horchata. For a vegan option, add almond milk instead.

    How is Horchata made?

    Traditionally, (Mexican) horchata is made by soaking rice along with cinnamon sticks in water overnight and then blending it all together until the rice liquifies. The mixture is then strained until it runs clear and is served over ice with a sprinkling of cinnamon.

    The traditional version of horchata, although delicious, requires a good amount of planning ahead of time. The pressure cooker version, however, cuts down on the soaking time by cooking the rice very slightly, just enough to infuse the flavour of cinnamon into the rice and break down the rice a little, without cooking the rice too much and releasing its starch.

    Step-by-step photo instructions for a quick and easy Instant Pot Horchata:

    • Measure out 1 cup of rice (I used basmati rice).
    • Wash the rice 2-3 times, until the water runs clear. 
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe
    • Rise out the water.
    • Add the rice to a blender, along with 3.5 cups of water and 1 cinnamon stick.
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe
    • Pulse a few times, until the rice is coarsely ground and the cinnamon stick is broken up. You don’t want it ground too fine.
    • Add the contents of the blender to the Instant Pot, and cook it at Manual for 1 minute.
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe
    • After 1 minute, hit Cancel and perform a quick release of pressure.
    • Immediately, add 3.5 cups of water, followed by 1 cup of milk to the contents of the IP.
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe
    • Stir well
    • Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and stir again.
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe
    • Strain the contents of the IP through a sieve (preferably, use a fine mesh sieve) into a large bowl.
    • Add 4-5 tablespoons of sugar (you can add less or more as per your sweet preference) and stir to dissolve.
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe
    • Add ice and keep the bowl in the fridge to chill.
    • Serve in glasses topped with more ice, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

    How to make Horchata the traditional way:

    • Add 1 cup of washed and rinsed rice along with 3.5 cups of water and 1 stick of cinnamon to a blender.
    • Pulse in the blender until the rice is coarsely ground.
    • Transfer the contents of the blender into a bowl, and keep covered at room temperature, overnight or up-to 12 hours.
    • After 12 hours, use a sieve and strain the contents of the bowl into a pitcher. Add 1 cup of water, milk or condensed milk, vanilla and sugar and stir to dissolve. Add ice and chill in the fridge before serving.
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe
    Instant Pot Horchata Step by Step recipe

    Instant Pot Horchata

    Shinta
    Horchata, a delicious and refreshing drink made in Spain and Latin America, is perfect for a hot summer day. This quick and easy Instant Pot Horchata is inspired by the Mexican rice-based Horchata, and is made in under 30 minutes!
    4 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 minute min
    Time for Instant Pot to build pressure 8 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 5
    Calories 206 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup rice
    • 3.5 cups of water + 3.5 cups water Separated (see notes on 'Burn' notice trigger, and adjust water accordingly)
    • 1 stick cinnamon
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 4-5 tablespoons sugar
    • ice

    Instructions
     

    • Measure out 1 cup of rice (I used basmati rice). Wash the rice 2-3 times, until the water runs clear.
    • Rise out the water and add the rice to a blender, along with 3.5 cups of water and 1 cinnamon stick.
    • Pulse a few times, until the rice is coarsely ground and the cinnamon stick is broken up. You don’t want the rice to be finely ground, else it will overcook in the Instant Pot and can trigger a Burn notice.
    • Add the contents of the blender to the Instant Pot, and cook it at ‘Manual’ for 1 minute.
    • After 1 minute, hit ‘Cancel’ and perform a quick release of pressure.
    • Immediately, add 3.5 cups of water, followed by 1 cup of milk to the contents of the IP.
    • Stir well, and add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and stir again.
    • Strain the contents of the IP through a sieve (preferably, use a fine mesh sieve), into a large bowl.
    • Add 4-5 tablespoons of sugar (you can add less or more as per your sweet preference). Stir to dissolve.
    • Add ice and keep the bowl in the fridge to chill.
    • Serve in glasses topped with more ice, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

    Notes

    • Avoiding the 'Burn' notice - Certain newer models of the Instant Pot can trigger a Burn warning sooner than others, as they are more sensitive to residue that may stick to the base of the IP. If this happens to your device, increase the amount of water in the Instant Pot when cooking the rice. 
    • You can replace milk with 1/2 a can of condensed milk, for a thicker version of horchata.
    • For a vegan option, replace regular milk with almond milk. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 206kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 29mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 79IUCalcium: 76mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Horchata, instant pot horchata, mexican rice drink
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me on Instagram! @carameltintedlife or use the hashtag #carameltintedlife
    « Mughlai Lamb Curry - Instant Pot Version
    Instant Pot Sausage Pasta »
    800 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Grandma Teena says

      July 28, 2020 at 12:30 am

      4 stars
      Thank you for explaining the "burn notice". Going to try this tonight.

    4 from 1 vote

    Primary Sidebar

    Shinta Simon

    is always on the lookout for inspiration for her next meal. She shares recipes for family meals, Instant Pot recipes and more

    Read more...

    Recent Recipes

    chicken and cashews cooked in brown sauce
    A meat and rice dish
    side view of chicken biryani
    bowl of prawn curry rice
    green patties in a plate
    side view of gobi manchurian in abowl
    close up of mattar and paneer in a gravy

    Popular Posts

    chicken and cashews cooked in brown sauce

    Cashew Chicken Recipe | Takeout style Cashew Chicken

    French Yoghurt Cake with Passionfruit Curd

    close up of sauteed shredded cabbage with spices

    Cabbage Thoran | Kerala Cabbage Stir Fry

    Cgickpea tagine in a bowl of rice

    Instant Pot Chickpea Tagine

    Pumpkin cheesecake on a white cake stand

    Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake

    three skewers of grilled chicken tikka

    Tandoori Chicken Tikka

    A serving of chicken and rice on a plate

    Instant Pot Chicken and Rice - 30 minutes only!

    Footer

    Affiliate Links

    Caramel Tinted Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
    • About

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Me

    FREE e-book

    • Sign Up! for a FREE e-book on
      Indian Recipes

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Caramel Tinted Life | Technical Partner </> Host My Blog

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.