Chicha Venezolana (Venezuelan Creamy Rice and Milk Drink)
In short: A cold, thick drink of soft-cooked rice blended with milk, condensed milk and vanilla, served over ice with a dusting of cinnamon. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 290 kcal
Chicha venezolana is a cold, creamy drink of blended rice and milk, sold by street vendors and served at parties and family gatherings. The rice is simmered until very soft, then blended with milk, condensed milk and vanilla and chilled until thick. It is poured over ice with a dusting of cinnamon. Despite the name, it is not fermented and has no alcohol.
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a sieve until the water runs mostly clear. Put it in a saucepan with the water and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring now and then, until the rice is very soft and the water has thickened to a loose porridge. Cool for 15 minutes and remove the cinnamon stick.
- Pour the rice and its liquid into a blender with the milk, condensed milk, vanilla and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, until completely smooth.
- Taste and add more sugar if you like. It should pour like a thick milkshake, so thin it with a splash of cold milk if needed.
- Chill for at least 2 hours, then stir well and serve in tall glasses over ice with ground cinnamon on top.
Tips
- Cook the rice a little longer than you would for a side dish, because very soft rice blends into a silky drink. If your blender is not powerful, pass the chicha through a fine sieve.
- The drink thickens in the fridge, so stir in cold milk before serving. It keeps for 3 days in a covered jar.
Questions and answers
What is chicha venezolana made of?
Cooked rice blended with milk, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla, served cold with cinnamon. It is not fermented and has no alcohol, unlike some chicha drinks elsewhere in South America.
Can I make chicha without condensed milk?
Yes. Replace it with 100 g (1/2 cup) of sugar and 125 ml (1/2 cup) more milk, then add more sugar to taste.
Can I make chicha ahead of time?
Yes, up to 3 days ahead. It thickens as it sits, so loosen it with cold milk and stir well before serving.
How long does it take to make Chicha Venezolana (Venezuelan Creamy Rice and Milk Drink)?
About 50 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Chicha Venezolana (Venezuelan Creamy Rice and Milk Drink)?
About 290 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 46 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 290 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 46 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 33 g |
| Sodium | 105 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
