Horchata: Mexican Rice Drink

Horchata is a creamy, lightly sweet Mexican drink made by soaking white rice in water, blending it with cinnamon and sometimes almonds, then straining. Diana adapted it into a whipped cream for her tamal dulce, and Padma Lakshmi called it one of her favourite drinks. The home method: soak 1 cup of long-grain white rice with a cinnamon stick in 4 cups of water overnight. Blend thoroughly, then strain through a fine cloth to remove all grit. Sweeten to taste with sugar or condensed milk and finish with vanilla. Serve over ice — or fold into whipped cream for a dessert garnish.