Licuados - The Mexican Milk Shake

I have to say that I am ridiculously excited about sharing this recipe.  Liquados are easy, cheap, versatile and amazing delicious - which explains why they are available on every street corner in Mexico City.  You really have no reason not to made one!

I personally like to refer to them as "Mexican Milk-shakes" because they are rich, creamy and their main ingredient is typically milk (although juice or horchata are sometimes used instead).  It as if a milk-shake became literal, rather than being the "ice-cream shake" that it is.

Licuados are principally made of your choice of fruit, milk, and sugar to taste.  Almost any type of fruit will work: mango, guava, banana, papaya, cantaloupe, strawberry, etc, but banana is my current favorite.  I think that is because it goes so well with the two secret ingredients: vanilla and cinnamon.  These will take your drink from ho-hum to addictive.

First you, of course, need to gather your ingredients along with a trusty blender.

For 1 pint you will need:
- About 1 cup (not packed) of your choice of fresh fruit (mango, peach, apricot, banana, strawberry, mango, papaya, etc.)
- Milk (about 1.5 cups)
- Sugar (1-3 TB to taste)
- A few drops of vanila (no more than 1/4 tsp)
- A good shake of cinnamon

From watching people make licuados, I have noticed they fill the fruit to about half the total volume of licuado that they want.  For instance, if they want a 0.5 liter of licuado, they fill fruit (including some air pockets) to the 0.25 liter point on their blender.

Add milk to the total volume desired (0.5 liter), 1-3 TB of sugar, a healthy shake of cinnamon, and a splash of vanilla.  Blend 45 to 60 seconds until you have a nice, frothy mixture.  The froth is really important!  Taste and add more sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla as desired - until the flavor is amazing.  (You can also blend in a few ice cubes, if you like.)

Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy!
Kim