Colombian Vegan Oatmeal Drink (Avena). Esta receta también está disponible en español.
Colombian avena is a traditional non-alcoholic drink prepared with oatmeal. The main ingredient of the drink is, not surprisingly, oatmeal (which means avena in Spanish). It is a thick, sweet and creamy shake type of drink that you usually drink cold. Avena is not just the oat “milk” that became popular as an alternative to cow´s milk. It is a drink that you prepare by cooking oats in milk, adding sugar and cinnamon sticks. After the mixture cooled down, you blend it into a smooth and soft drink.
Colombian Vegan Oatmeal Drink (Avena)
Although you make traditional avena with cow´s milk, you can easy make a vegan version of this addictive drink. If you are looking however to use a type of cow´s milk, this recipe will work just fine! For this vegan version of avena I use a store bought oat drink, but you can use whatever type of milk alternative you prefer. Just make sure it is a sugarfree one, so you can control the amount of sugar you want to add. Different non-dairy milks have different qualities, so you might have to add more or less liquid and sugar to get the desired result. In this recipe I share the amounts that worked for my oat drink, but take them as an estimate and check and taste yourself.
Apart from a milk alternative, you will need:
- sugar or sweetener of your choice
- cinnamon sticks
- some cinnamon powder for serving, if desired
Chances are big you already have all ingredients of this delicious drink in your pantry.
Looking for more Colombian drinks? Click here for recipes!
How to prepare Avena Colombiana
Preparing is easy:
- boil the oatmeal in the milk of your choice, with sugar and a cinnamon stick
- after 20 minutes, you cool the mixture in the refrigerator preferable overnight (or at least a couple of hours)
- when completely cold, take cinnamon stick out and mix in a blender. This is also the time to add some milk or water if the avena is too thick for your liking
- sprinkle with cinnamon powder and your avena is ready to drink!
Do you love Colombian vegetarian food? Check this out for more recipes!
Colombian Vegan Oatmeal Drink (Avena)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1 cup water
- 3.5 cups milk alternative of choice e.g. oat, soy, almond
- 2 tbsp sugar or more to taste
- 1 cinnamon stick
- cinnamon powder (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Add oatmeal, water and milk to a boiling pot. Bring to a boil. Add sugar and cinnamon stick. Turn low and let boil for 20 minutes until oats are cooked and soft. Stir regularly to prevent burning. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then place in a container and in the refrigerator. Preferably overnight, or minimal a couple of hours until cold. When ready to drink, take out cinnamon stick and blend the mixture using a blender for 2-3 minutes until soft and smooth. Adjust thickness by adding some water/milk if desired.Sprinkle with cinnamon powder (optional) and drink when cold.
