Ricezempic (High-Protein Rice Horchata)
The viral Ricezempic drink, turned into a creamy cinnamon horchata with 26 g of protein. Rice, skyr and milk, no medication involved.
Reviewed by Bogdan Marcu, Licensed Nutritionist & Dietitian
26 gprotein
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Ready in
- 5 min
- Serves
- 1
Is 26 g enough? Calculate your daily protein target
Ingredients
- 60 g / 2 oz cooked white rice, cooled (about ⅓ cup; leftover rice is ideal)
- 170 g / 6 oz 0% fat Greek yogurt or skyr
- 200 ml / ¾ cup semi-skimmed milk, or unsweetened soya milk
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus a pinch to finish
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
- A squeeze of lime (optional)
- 4–5 ice cubes
Instructions
- Blend the rice with the milk for a full minute, until there are no grains left. Doing this before anything else goes in is what makes the drink smooth instead of gritty.
- Add the yogurt, cinnamon, vanilla and ice, and blend for another 20 to 30 seconds. Taste it before you reach for the maple syrup, and add a squeeze of lime if you like it with a little tang, the way the trend makes it.
- Pour it into a tall glass, dust with a pinch of cinnamon and drink it cold. It keeps covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours; stir in a splash of milk if it thickens.
- No cooked rice? Simmer 20 g of dry white rice in plenty of water for about 15 minutes, drain and let it cool. That gives you the 60 g you need.
- If your appetite is low or the nausea is bad, this is a full glass. Half now and half an hour later goes down more easily than forcing it in one go.
About the name
The Ricezempic trend is white rice soaked in water, strained, with lime juice added, drunk to feel full and lose weight. There is no medication in it and nothing in rice acts like a GLP-1. A bariatric surgeon quoted by PureWow said it should decidedly not be considered an Ozempic alternative.
The original drink has almost no protein, which is the real problem on a GLP-1, where appetite is low and protein is the thing to protect. Borrowing from horchata, the Mexican rice and cinnamon drink, and adding skyr and milk takes it to 26 g in the same glass. It has no fibre, so on days when constipation is a problem, pair it with a handful of berries.
