We’re off to Nicaragua this week. I’m meeting Joan from Foodalogue there on the next stop of our virtual culinary tour dubbed as “South of the Border“. It’s been great fun so far and very rewarding and I can highly recommend you join us! Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America enjoying a very tropical climate. Roughly, one quarter of the nation’s population live in the capital city, Managua, making it the second largest city in Central America.
It’s the food that I’m interested in (of course!) and I find a unique mixture of indigenous and Spanish/Creole cuisine. I also discover that the food varies from coast to coast. The Pacific coast emphasises the use of corn and fruits, whilst the Caribbean coast takes a more tropical approach with seafood, coconut and pineapples. The heat is making me thirsty and I discover a very refreshing chilled pineapple and rice drink. It quenches my thirst and I find it strangely addictive. It’s sweet, nutty and I can taste a hint of cinnamon and cloves…
Back in Sydney and the weather is hot. Crazy hot. I want to make this just to cool down. It’s a very simple concoction consisting of pineapple rinds/skins, rice, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and water. I found a few variations of this drink but all the recipes called for the rice to be boiled until it “split”. The finished creation had a cloudy colour (from the rice) with a slight “lolly flavour”. It’s hard to describe but I really enjoyed it. I decided to style it up a little by adding a few chopped pineapple pieces. If you feel a little fancy add a splash of Malibu rum and turn this into a tropical cocktail! Enjoy!
Recipe for Fresco De Piña y Arroz-Chilled Pineapple and Rice drink
- The skin/rind of one pineapple
- 2 cups of sugar
- 1 cup of plain uncooked white rice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 10 cups of water
- Place all the ingredients in a large pot, on a medium to high heat and bring to the boil. (be sure to skim off any ‘scum’ or impurities that may rise o the surface)
- Keep cooking the mixture until the rice splits or bursts (about 30-45 mins depending)
- Allow to cool and strain the mixture into sieve or a cheesecloth .
- Top with ice and chopped pineapple pieces (optional)
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Pete, this is a dangerous drink, I can see myself having a whole pitcher!
Ah…so glad to see you made it in time. I noticed in my research on Nicaragua that they seem to favor pineapple. I saw quite a few references to pineapple vinegar. This is a lovely horchata. Thanks for keeping with the tour.
A fabulous drink! I am a big fan of such exotic beverages…
Cheers,
Rosa
How different is that drink?! Sounds divine … love the tropical flavors.
I am so happy to have shared this delicious pineapple drink with the rest of the tour group Peter. We still have plenty of adventure left to come. On to Argentina!!!
Looks like you made loads of this interesting drink Peter! Saturday was horribly hot – I can imagine you finishing it since it sounds like a delicious and refreshing drink. Very interesting to use rice. I thought it would act as a thickener but it seems you strain it. Must be for the flavour?
this sounds really exotic – making drinks out of rice is smoething i would never have thought of, but i have always loved pineapple (is there anyone who doesnt?) and will probably give this a shot (with some imported ones…)
I also made an Arroz drink for this stop….. Stunning photos, if only I wasn’t allergic to pineapple!!!!!!!!
That looks beautiful and refreshing and perfect for a hot summerday! With temperatures dropping below -10C today… Not likely for me at the moment…
a beautiful tropical drink but the use of rice in this resembles a kind of Korean sweet rice drink too! it’s still cold in England but I could definitely do with this refreshing concoction.
Those look so delicious and they remind me of the green mango drink I made last summer. I like how you gave them a little leaf headdress.
That looks so refreshing – I absolutely adore pineapple. Lovely photos as always!
This sounds fascinating. Kinda like horchatta but with pineapples. Can you send some of that heat up our way?
I always love recipes that involve using something you would normally throw away ie pineapple rind. Ingenious and a good one to remember the next time you have a fresh pineapple in the house. It seems to use a lot of sugar though!
I agree. The other recipes I saw had 3 cups of sugar. I actually cut this down!
What a delicious and refreshing drink. I love pineapple!
Sounds like a lovely refreshing drink, Peter! You have the perfect weather for Joan’s tours this year!
Another gorgeous creation, Peter! I want to take a sip from my screen this instant. Have a fabulous time in Nicaragua, mirmingi!
What a bllody fantastic idea! Will definately keep this drink in mind when we have more scorching days in Sydney. Do you think you’d be able to make it and store it for later (this weather is quite unpredictable)?
Hi Phuoc. I’d probably store it for a few days. No more than that. Cheers
Wow, this drink sounds very intriguing. And I like the idea of using the pineapple skin! I always just discard it, such a waste! Although it’s really not hot here in London at the moment, this drink might bring me a bit of summer I so much need!
I’ll definitely give it a go as I have a fresh pineapple at home. Yay! I like the top-down shot of the pineapple leaves!
That is simple and looks so refreshing. I love the overhead shots of the pineapple, so pretty! hehe.
Amazing, I can’t even imagine what the rice would do to this drink but it is totally intriguing. Would it be awful of me to add coconut rum?
No…I think some coconut rum would be a great idea!
looks so fresh. and i envy you that you can go anywhere you want without being burdened by anyone else
) lucky mate!
This looks so gorgeous Peter! I would definitely add that splash of Malibu as I love cocktails and can’t wait for the summer to come to start enjoying them on my veranda. Nicaragua sounds so far away and exotic. I am looking forward to your impressions.
Great drink for such a hot Sydney day. Have a fantastic time in Nicaragua. My cousin lives there and she tells me how fabulous it is over there. The food, people and culture. I cant wait to see all your awesome photos and post.
Looks so refreshing, a drink made of rice … hmmm … cant wait to try this one … it would give the drink good body right ? Considering its the starch thats being strained out. Pineapple is great in the heat ! I know , its CRAZY hot here too n i have a glass of fresh pineapple juice for breakfast everyday, n you get the best pineapples here in Ghana
So this i would love to try !
I think the Malibu rum is a great idea! Especially with all that heat you mentioned. GREG
It looks so refreshing and a very interesting drink Peter especially using the rind of the pineapple and with rice.
Perfect timing with this drink…37 degrees in Melb today! I can definitely see why this would addictive. Looks and sounds amazing.
Can I come over? This is truly the perfect drink! Will have to make it the next get together I have or just for myself!
What amazing pictures!
I’m totally intrigued by this drink–it sounds fabulous! Have a wonderful trip!
This drink is so unique and refreshing. I like it.
I love horchata, and pineapple would be a great twist. Any reason why the rind is used, instead of the pineapple itself? How much fruit did you leave on the rinds?
I think the rind is used as not to waste anything. I tried trimming as much fruit as I could off the rind but some was still left on there.
Leaving in Australia, definitely this is season for something so refreshing… so, I will have to keep the recipe when summer will come and I will definitely enjoy this, at my balcony watching over the “Zante”…
That’s an interesting one. The rice would make it kind of starchy, and pineapple juice is divine even without the spices.
Such a decadent non-alcoholic drink! I definitely have to mix up a few of these and cool down from these muggy days we’ve been having. Better still, you mix some up, when should I pop by?
Hi Peter
We’ve been following your food blog for a while now and have been inspired to start one of our own!
Here is the link to our blog http://nomnomnibblies.blogspot.com/
Please pop by when you have time!
Love, L & J xx
PS Bet you’re having a blast eating your way around Nicaragua right now – can’t wait to see upcoming posts ! We agree with everyone else too , the drink looks exotic, fresh and something we must try !
mmm, this looks very interesting is like a agua fresca crossed with a *cooked* (!!??) horchata….I will not have a rest until I try this.
ps loved the pineapple pictures.
hya! Greetings from South Africa! Enjoyed my visit here, especially the Mediterranean / Greek flair… Costa
have really enjoyed these “south of the border” posts! That’s my kind of eating (and drinking!)
I love the sound of “We’re off to Nicaragua” what a grand notion this project of yours is… love it. The drink is shot beautifully and sounds perfect… an antidote to the cold drear of NYC today!!!
This is really refreshing for a hot day like today.