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Cortado de leche
Curdled milk in panela syrup
Cortado de leche: milk curdled with lime and simmered in panela syrup with cinnamon
On farms in Antioquia and Santander, when there was more milk than anyone could drink, it became cortado: milk deliberately split with lime juice, then simmered slowly with panela and spices until the curds turn tender and tan and the whey reduces into a thin, molasses-flavoured syrup. It is a country dessert, served warm or cold in small bowls after Sunday lunch, sometimes with a piece of white cheese on the side. The texture is somewhere between a soft ricotta and baked custard, sweet and lightly spiced with cinnamon and clove. Because lime does the curdling, there is no rennet involved. Stirring hard as soon as the lime goes in is the usual mistake; it breaks the curds into grainy specks, so let them form undisturbed and then move the pan gently. Chef's tip: use full-fat milk that is not ultra-heat-treated; UHT milk gives smaller, softer curds.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 8 ¼ cups whole milknot UHT
- ¼ cup lime juicefrom about 3 limes
- 10 ½ oz panelagrated; or dark muscovado sugar
- ½ cup water
- 4 cloves
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Bring 8 ¼ cups whole milk almost to the boil in a large, wide pan over a medium heat, until small bubbles appear around the edge.
10 minStep 2: Turn the heat to low, pour in ¼ cup lime juice and leave without stirring for 5 minutes, until large curds form and the liquid turns yellowish.
5 minStep 3: Meanwhile, dissolve 10 ½ oz panela in ½ cup water with 2 cinnamon sticks and 4 cloves in a small pan over a medium heat, for 3 minutes, until syrupy.
3 minStep 4: Pour the panela syrup gently around the curds, tilting the pan to mix rather than stirring.
Step 5: Simmer over a low heat for 35–40 minutes, nudging the curds occasionally with a spoon, until they are tan and tender and the liquid has reduced by about half into a thin syrup.
38 minStep 6: Remove the spices. Serve warm, or chill for at least 2 hours, until cold and slightly thickened.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 370 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 55 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cortado de leche take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of lime juice?
- Lemon juice, same amount.
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