Horchata Protein Smoothie
As the summer months arrive, I’ve found that a smoothie a day keeps me sane and satiated; however, mixing it up is really key to not getting bored with my daily eats. An even bigger trick? Is to make it taste like dessert!
Horchata is a fabulous drink made from soaked rice, and is often sweetened with honey and spiced with cinnamon and vanilla. Of course there are hundreds of recipes out there, although this one is my favorite, and making it into a smoothie is incredibly simple as well! One of the best parts of this smoothie, though, is the fact that you don’t even need to have a horchata base in order to make it have that decadent creaminess. Leftover white rice will do!
This recipe calls for a vanilla protein powder, so go with whichever kind you prefer. Another thing it calls for is vanilla bean paste, which is delicious but not always highly available depending on your local stores. If you don’t have vanilla bean paste a dash (about ¼ teaspoon) of vanilla extract will do just fine. If you’re looking for a way to get more vegetables into your diet you could also use frozen cauliflower crumbles in lieu of ice – sounds crazy, but tastes delicious! And last, yes you absolutely DO need to add the rice to really achieve that thick, creamy consistency. The great thing is that our favorite grain is perfect for meal prep and makes it super easy to incorporate a million different ways!
HORCHATA PROTEIN SMOOTHIE
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk of choice
- ½ cup cooked Riceland white rice
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder of choice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- pinch of cinnamon
- 1 cup ice OR frozen cauliflower crumbles
- caramel sauce for drizzling, optional
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce, if using.
Enjoy!
Post and recipe by Riceland friend Heather Disarro of HeathersDish.com
