Horchata Tiger Nut Drink Recipe

Receta de Horchata de Chufa

15 Minutes

4 8-10 oz servings

Ingredients

1/2 lb chufa nuts
4 1/2 cups of cold water
1 small cinnamon stick, crushed or ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp grated lemon zest (optional)
1 cup sugar (start with less sugar or none at all - then add sugar to your taste!)

Nutritional Facts

Calories 444
Total Fat 11.4 gr (15%)
Saturated Fat 2.1 gr (11%)
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 29 mg (1%)
Total Carbohydrates 88.7 gr (32%)
Fiber 14.4 gr (51%)
Sugars 58.6 gr
Protein 2.9 gr
Vitamin D 0%
Calcium 1%
Iron 29%
Potassium 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on 2000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

Sweet and refreshing, horchata de chufa is one of Spain's most famous drinks, made of ground chufa nuts (actually the roots of the chufa plant) grown in the Valle de Nito in Spain. Served frosty cold, it is like a nutty milkshake. It was the Moors who first began cultivating chufa grass in Spain and originated the refreshing drink horchata de chufa from its tuberous roots. La horchata de chufa is a Mediterranean product (completely different from Mexican horchata, which is made from rice). It is a favorite beverage in all of Spain, but particularly in Valencia, Murcia and Andalucía.

Steps

Add the chufa nuts to a large bowl and fill with enough cold water to cover the nuts by one inch. Soak the chufa nuts for 24 hours. After 24 hours, drain the chufa nuts and rinse them under cold water. Add half of the nuts and all of the cinnamon to a blender with ½ of the cold water. Blend on high until you have a smooth mixture. Add the remainder of the nuts, the remainder of the cold water, sugar and lemon zest and blend again until you have an even, smooth mixture. (Valencian's like horchata very sweet! For a healthier version, decrease the amount of sugar). Let it settle for a half an hour. Press the paste through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl, pushing down on the mixture to release all the liquid. Discard what is left in the sieve. Transfer the horchata to a pitcher and refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors develop. Finish in the freezer for 20 minutes until slightly slushy. Remove from the freezer, give the horchata a stir, pour into glasses and serve with a straw. Serve as a cool afternoon treat on a hot summer day! Don't want to make your own horchata at home? Try our ready to serve Horchata de Chufa instead!