Rice milk, made with rice, water, and your favorite sweetener. It's so smooth and tasty, very easy to make, and ready in 5 just minutes!
Rice milk is one of my favorite dairy-free alternatives to cow's milk. It's smooth, full of flavor, and perfect to have with anything that calls for regular milk. Besides, store-bought plant milk is more expensive and packed with lots of sugar, preservatives, and additives.
This beverage is more digestible than other milk substitutes like soy milk and lighter than other kinds of nut milk. It's also suitable for celiacs, lactose intolerants, people with nut allergies, and, of course, for vegans!
I like to make this milk with brown rice because it's healthier and more nutritious, but you can also use a different type of rice. It's a delicious, smooth, and tasty drink, as well as more inexpensive than other types of plant milk. Also, you don't need to soak the rice grains.
To prepare this rice milk you only need cooked rice, water, a blender, and a nut milk bag. Serve it hot or cold and customize it with some vanilla extract, cocoa or carob powder, and even a cinnamon stick!
How to make rice milk - Step by step
- Cook rice according to package directions. Drain and let it cool down. You can also use leftover rice.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth (photo 1).
- Strain the mixture using a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, napkin, or a strainer (photo 2). This step is optional.
- Use or serve your rice milk immediately.
Pro tips
- To make this recipe you can use any kind of rice, but my favorite ones are brown rice and short-grain white rice. Feel free to use long-grain rice.
- Sweetener is optional, although you can use sugar or syrup, whatever you prefer. Just add it slowly to taste.
- There're some rice milk recipes that contain a little bit of salt to enhance the flavor or even some oil, but I like it better without it.
- For creamier milk, feel free to use less water.
- Serve this non-dairy milk hot or cold with cocoa powder to make a vegan version of chocolate milk and eat it with some vegan zucchini bread, vegan peanut butter cookies, vegan donuts, or even vegan banana pancakes.
What is rice milk?
It is a vegan alternative to dairy milk. It is suitable for people who can't consume nuts or soy, and it has a very light and refreshing flavor.
Is rice milk good for you?
Of course! As long as you can eat rice, this milk will be good for you. One of my favorite parts about it is that you can use leftover rice!
How long will this rice milk keep?
This lactose-free milk recipe doesn't contain any preservatives or additives, so it's absolutely fresh and natural. That is why you should make sure to keep it in an airtight container in the fridge and it will last for 3-5 days.
Looking for more milk substitutes?
Did you make this rice milk?
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📖 Recipe
Rice Milk
Ingredients
- ½ cup cooked rice, I used brown rice, see notes
- 2 cups water
- 2 Medjool or 4 Deglet Nour dates, optional
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package directions. Drain and let it cool down. You can also use leftover rice.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender (cooked rice, water, and dates) and blend until smooth.
- Strain the mixture using a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, napkin, or a strainer. This step is optional.
- Use your rice milk immediately and serve it hot or cold with cocoa powder to make a vegan version of chocolate milk. Feel free to eat it with some vegan zucchini bread, vegan peanut butter cookies, vegan donuts, or even vegan banana pancakes.
- Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Notes
- If you want to cook your rice from scratch, use ⅓ cup of 55 g of uncooked rice and cook it according to package directions.
- To make this rice milk you can use any kind of rice, but my favorite ones are brown rice and short-grain white rice. Feel free to use long-grain rice.
- Sweetener is optional, although you can use sugar or syrup, whatever you prefer. Just add it slowly to taste.
- There're some rice milk recipes that contain a little bit of salt to enhance the flavor or even some oil, but I like it better without it.
- For creamier milk, feel free to use less water.
- Cooking time is not included in prep time.
- Nutritional info has been calculated before straining the milk.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in September of 2014, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in January of 2022.
sara says
Why do we need to drain the rice? Can't we use the water in which it was cooked?
Iosune says
Hi Sara! Draining the rice helps remove any excess starch, which can affect the texture and consistency of the rice milk. While you can technically use the water in which the rice was cooked, it may result in a thicker or stickier milk. By draining the rice and starting with fresh water, you have more control over the final texture and flavor of the rice milk. However, feel free to experiment and see what works best for you!
KH says
Reduced the water for our preference and used maple syrup but this is great and so easy. Thanks!
Iosune says
Hi KH! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Jennifer says
Can I freeze this rice milk or will the consistency suffer?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Jennifer! I haven’t tried it myself, sorry 🙁 Have a nice day!
Shanti says
Hi,
Can I use rice flour ? How much rice flour added into recipe ?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Shanti! I haven't tried it with rice flour, sorry 🙁