Chicha Venezolana (Venezuelan Rice Drink)
Venezuela's creamy, cinnamon-scented rice drink, served cold over crushed ice with a drizzle of condensed milk.
Recipe in testing: I'm cooking it in my TM7™ and will update the steps and the photo with my own.
Chicha is the sweet rice drink sold from street carts all over Venezuela, poured thick and cold over crushed ice and finished with cinnamon and a ribbon of condensed milk. It is not fermented and has no alcohol: it is closer to a rice pudding you drink, and kids and grown ups line up for it alike.
In the Thermomix® TM7™, the rice cooks with a cinnamon stick until it is very soft, then the same bowl blends it with milk, condensed milk and vanilla until it is completely smooth. After a few hours in the fridge it thickens into the creamy chicha you know, ready to serve by the glass.
Made in the Thermomix® TM7™
Chicha Venezolana (Venezuelan Rice Drink)
Makes: About 1.7 L (7 cups), 8 glasses
- Prep10 min
- Cook35 min
- Total4 h 5 min
- Serves8
Ingredients
To serve
Instructions
- Place the rice, water, cinnamon stick and salt in the mixing bowl. Place the simmering basket on the mixing bowl lid instead of the measuring cup and cook 35 min/98°C (210°F)/reverse/speed 1, until the rice is very soft and starting to fall apart.
- Remove the cinnamon stick with the spatula and let the rice cool in the bowl, with the lid on, for 20 minutes.
- Add the condensed milk, milk and vanilla. Put the measuring cup in place and blend 1 min/speed 5-10, increasing speed gradually, until completely smooth.
- Taste. If you like it sweeter, add the sugar and mix 10 sec/speed 5.
- Pour the chicha into a pitcher, cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. It thickens as it chills: stir in a little cold milk if you want it thinner.
- To serve, fill tall glasses halfway with crushed ice, pour in the chicha, sprinkle with ground cinnamon and drizzle with condensed milk.
Tips
- For crushed ice, place 300 g ice cubes in the clean, dry mixing bowl and chop 4 sec/speed 5.
- Chicha keeps 3 days in a covered pitcher in the fridge. Stir or shake it before serving, because it settles.
- Venezuelan street carts often add extras: a little chocolate syrup, colored sprinkles or a pinch of nutmeg. Set them out and let everyone choose.
