Ingredients
Oats
- 150 grolled oats
- 500 mlwater, for soaking
The drink
- 500 mlwhole milk
- 200 mlevaporated milk
- 100 gsugar, or to taste
- 2 teaspoonsground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoonvanilla
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of grated nutmeg
To serve
- plenty of ice
- ground cinnamon, to dust
- tall glasses
Directions
- Put the rolled oats in a bowl. Pour all of the water over them. Stir them to make sure all are wet.
- Cover it over and let it stand. Give it at least thirty minutes. Tip the oats and their water into a blender.
- Add the milk and the evaporated milk. Add the sugar and the cinnamon. Add the vanilla and the pinch of salt. Add the grated nutmeg to the jug.
- Blend it on high for a full minute. It should be completely smooth. Blend it longer if it seems grainy. Add more milk if it is too thick.
- Taste it once it is fully blended. It should be sweet and clearly cinnamony. Add more sugar if it needs it. Add more cinnamon if it tastes flat. Remember that cold blunts sweetness.
- Add milk if it goes too thick. Serving it is done very cold over ice. Stir it well before you pour it. Fill tall glasses with plenty of ice.
- Pour the drink over all the ice. Dust ground cinnamon over the top. It keeps two days refrigerated. Stir it well each time before pouring.
Technique
- Avena means oats and jugo means juice, though nothing is juiced; the word is used loosely for blended drinks. The atlas lists this dish under barley, but oats and barley are different grains and this drink is made with oats.
- The oats are soaked before blending, which softens them so they blend smooth rather than gritty, and the soaking water goes in with them because it carries starch that thickens the drink.
- Evaporated milk is reduced without sugar and gives the slightly cooked flavour characteristic of the drink, while condensed milk is sweetened and is a different thing; some households use it with less sugar.
Substitutions
- Condensed milk can replace the sugar and evaporated milk together.
- Any milk works, though whole milk gives the fullest body.
Variations
- Some households strain it for a smoother lighter drink and others leave it thick.
- A version made with water alone is lighter and equally common.
- Nutmeg and vanilla are added by some and left out by others.
History
A Dominican breakfast and street drink sold from blenders at colmados and market stalls.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jugo de avena?
Jugo de avena is a drink from Dominican Republic: oats blended with milk, sugar and cinnamon and served ice cold. A Dominican breakfast and street drink sold from blenders at colmados and market stalls.
How long does Jugo de avena take to make?
Jugo de avena takes 10 minutes plus soaking of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes serves 4. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Jugo de avena?
Yes, within limits. Condensed milk can replace the sugar and evaporated milk together. Any milk works, though whole milk gives the fullest body.
What is the most important thing to get right in Jugo de avena?
The oats are soaked before blending, which softens them so they blend smooth rather than gritty, and the soaking water goes in with them because it carries starch that thickens the drink.
