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    My Colombian Recipes » Recipes » Desserts » Dulce De Leche Cortada (colombian-style Curdled Sweet Milk)

    Dulce de Leche Cortada (Colombian-Style Curdled Sweet Milk)

    Oct 4, 2012 · Modified: Feb 1, 2023 by Erica Dinho · 22 Comments

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    Dulce Leche Cortada is also known as Miguelucho. This Colombian Style Curdled Milk dessert is simple to make and delicious.

    Dulce de Leche CortadaPin

    What is Dulce de Leche Cortada?

    Also known as Miguelucho is a Colombian dessert that consists of curdled milk, cooked with panela, a hard brown cane sugar, and cinnamon sticks. There are variations of this dessert throughout South and Central America. This Dulce de Leche Cortada is mostly cooked in Colombian homes.

    Dulce de Leche CortadaPin

    Dulce de Leche Cortada Recipe

    Erica Dinho
    5 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Colombian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 489 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 8 cups of whole milk
    • 6 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
    • 2 cinnamon sticks
    • 16 oz of panela

    Instructions
     

    • Bring the milk to a boil in a pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add lime juice, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly, until the mixture curdles, about 2 minutes.
    • Add the panela and cinnamon sticks and simmer over low heat with the pot uncovered for about one hour, stirring often with a wooden spoon.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 489kcalCarbohydrates: 92gProtein: 11gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 145mgPotassium: 611mgFiber: 1gSugar: 89gVitamin A: 538IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 477mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword colombian dessert
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!
    Dulce de Leche Cortada (Colombian-Style Curdled Sweet Milk)Pin

    The traditional way to make Miguelucho or Dulce de Leche Cortada is with old milk that is already curdled. In this recipe I used lime juice to curd the milk. The texture of the finished dessert should be like caramelized cottage cheese.

    Dulce de Leche Cortada (Colombian-Style Curdled Sweet Milk)Pin
    Dulce de Leche Cortada (Colombian-Style Curdled Sweet Milk)Pin
    Dulce de Leche Cortada (Colombian-Style Curdled Sweet Milk)Pin
    Dulce de Leche Cortada (Colombian-Style Curdled Sweet Milk)Pin

    Other delicious desserts to try:

    Colombian Style Rice Pudding

    Coconut Flan

    Coffee Mousse

    Coffee Flan

    Pineapple Flan

    More Desserts Recipes

    Paletas De Limón (Creamy Lime Popsicles)Torta Maria Luisa (Maria Luisa Cake)Pumpkin-Coconut Popsicles (Paletas De Calabaza Y Coco)Homemade Arequipe Or Dulce De LecheDulce De Leche Or Arequipe Brownies
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    About Erica Dinho

    My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

    Author Page →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. rebecca

      October 04, 2012 at 5:10 pm

      5 stars
      wow interesting dessert 🙂 would like to try

      Reply
    2. Jenn and Seth

      October 04, 2012 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      such an interesting dish! sounds delicious!

      Reply
    3. Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook

      October 04, 2012 at 9:25 pm

      5 stars
      That is different, but looks so good. I'd love to try it!

      Reply
    4. KimberlyPineda

      October 05, 2012 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      A eso le llamamos migulecho!!! Me encanta!!!

      Reply
      • Erica

        October 05, 2012 at 11:07 am

        5 stars
        Kimberly, Gracias por el otro nombre muy interesante, en que parte le llaman Miguelucho?Mi abuelita siempre lo llamo Dulce de Leche cortada.

        Reply
        • Anonymous

          May 11, 2021 at 7:00 pm

          5 stars
          In the north cost or Costa Atlántica

          Reply
      • Anonymous

        May 11, 2021 at 6:52 pm

        5 stars
        Querrás decir Miguelucho Kimberley

        Reply
    5. Christina

      October 05, 2012 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      Dear Erica, I have been reading your blog for a few months now. I really enjoy hearing about traditional Colombian foods. I visited Colombia quite often in the late 70’s early 80’s so your blog brings back memories and also shows me what I missed.

      This is my first comment. I find this recipe very interesting and I bet it’s fantastic! I intend to try it.

      I am an alternative medicine practitioner. As a part of my practice I am a traditional foods advocate and educator. So I noticed that you say “The traditional way to make Dulce de Leche Cortada is with old milk that is already curdled.” Many cultures have traditional recipes specifically designed to use up milk that’s a bit older and beginning to curdle, but nowadays few people understand exactly what that means. So I wanted to point out that, traditionally, this recipe would probably have been made with raw, unpasteurized milk that has begun to curdle. When that happens with raw, unpasteurized milk, the cause is naturally occurring bacteria---bacteria and enzymes that came with the milk when it was fresh from the cow or goat; bacteria beneficial to humans, NOT bad bacteria that might make someone ill.

      The pasteurization process kills ALL bacteria, both beneficial and pathogenic (bad), but pasteurized milk is still a perfect growth medium for bacteria of all sorts. So pasteurized milk can and does go bad when old, and begin to curdle as a result, but when it does, it’s from contamination by ambient bacteria (just from the air and other environment.) That ambient bacteria is usually the kind that can make someone ill when there’s a lot of them, as happens when pasteurized milk goes bad... essentially old pasteurized milk rots like old, bad, meat. Whereas old, curdled, RAW milk, is just milk that’s soured and curdled like sour cream, and crème fraiche, and other such soured dairy products that humans have traditionally used for thousands of years... those products are beneficial.

      Consequently, I thought I should point out that when this recipe is made with modern pasteurized milk (which is all that is available to most people in the USA), it should use only new, fresh, pasteurized milk as you do in your recipe, curdled with acid; you use lime juice, but lemon juice and vinegar should work just as well (but would taste a bit different.) This recipe should not be made with old pasteurized milk that has gone bad or curdled as old, pasteurized milk is not healthful... it’s rotten and beyond saving, just like old bad meat. If you have old, curdled, unpasteurized (raw) milk, then that should be just fine to use; perfect, in fact, as this recipe was made specifically to use up old raw milk.

      Thanks for the many wonderful Colombian recipes you have shared with me and for the memories that you have evoked. I look forward to hearing more about the Colombian culture and about your family specifically.

      Reply
      • Erica

        October 05, 2012 at 1:19 pm

        5 stars
        Christina, Thank you so much for your wonderful and helpful comment! You are right.....In Colombia this dessert is made with un-pasteurized or raw milk. That is the reason I adapted the recipe for my USA readers.

        Erica.

        Reply
      • Yubi Sarmiento

        January 04, 2021 at 8:47 am

        5 stars
        Such good information! Great explanation as I know many would easily make that mistake.

        Reply
    6. Belinda @zomppa

      October 05, 2012 at 2:55 pm

      5 stars
      Love this natural sweet dessert - love love love it. Love sweet milk.

      Reply
    7. nammi

      October 06, 2012 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      yummm, love dulce de leche

      Reply
    8. Ivy

      October 06, 2012 at 2:51 am

      5 stars
      It must taste amazing! I love learning your traditional recipes,

      Reply
    9. Joanne

      October 06, 2012 at 7:14 am

      5 stars
      I love dulce de leche! I've never heard of this version though...sounds delicious!

      Reply
    10. Jeannie

      October 06, 2012 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      Very interesting dessert Erica, would love to give this a try too! Looks like something that I would enjoy very much!

      Reply
    11. grace

      October 07, 2012 at 3:31 pm

      5 stars
      this is so unique and DELICIOUS!

      Reply
    12. Sofia

      October 15, 2012 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      I made it last night, but used brown sugar instead and it was very good! Love the texture.In Bogotá we called it Mielmesabe.

      Reply
    13. Erica

      October 15, 2012 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you all for visiting my blog!

      Reply
      • LunaR

        August 15, 2023 at 11:27 am

        5 stars
        I have not tried this recipe yet. But I wanted to thank you! I was born in Colombia, then moved to the US at a young age. I don't remember much but I do remember my mom cooking a really sweet dish when the milk went bad. I was very lucky to have found this page. Just looking at the ingredients, it brings back good memories. I am excited to try this! Abs I thank you & your mamita for this.

        Reply
    14. Lila

      October 25, 2012 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      Bienmesabe is delicious. I made your recipe and it was perfect. My husband is from the Pacifiv region in Colombia and finally I've found someone to teach me how to cook real Colombian food. Thanks

      Reply
    15. Christina Toro

      January 11, 2013 at 5:54 pm

      5 stars
      I was in Salento (Quindio) over Christmas and my brother-in-law happened to see cortado in one of the stores. Funny thing, my Colombian husband never had it before, and of course, we loved it! He's going to be surprised if he comes home one day, and I have some for him! 🙂

      Reply
    16. Paty

      October 04, 2013 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      Dear Erica,
      This is morning I decided to make "Dulce de leche cortada" with some old milk that I have in the fridge but could not remember exactly how to do it. I decided to look at the internet and by chance saw your blog, which makes me very happy. I also happened to read Christina's comment and will obviously use lemon and fresh milk. I will let you know how it comes out. It is going to bring back memories of my childhood as I was born in Colombia but have lived in the U.K for many years. I also cook Colombian food for my family and friends so I will definitely will be visiting your blog from now on. Thank you Erica x

      Reply

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    Hola and welcome to My Colombian Recipes. My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

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