From Argentina with Love – Dulce de leche

One of the best things in Argentina is Dulce de Leche. You will often hear that I mention it in my travel blogs. When visiting Argentina one of the things you will get to taste at one point or another is Dulce de Leche. Why? Because it is such a big part of the Argentinian culture. You have to try it! There is nothing better than it!
It’s great in almost everything. The only thing that is not so great is the effect on the hips! Bakeries use it when they make Medialunas, facturas (pastries), cakes, alfajores, ice cream, sauces. You can even eat it on bread with butter. All bakeries use it. All Supermarkets sell it. You find it in Ice cream shops. You find it everywhere.

But what exactly is Dulce de Leche?

The legend goes like this. It is said that Dulce de Leche originated in Argentina in 1829 in the province of Cañuelas in Buenos Aires. Two opposing forces were on the brink of ending a war. General Lavalle and General Manuel de Rosas came together in order to make a treaty. General Lavalle arrived very tired at the camp of General Manuel de Rosas. Manuel de Rosas wasn’t in the camp at the moment so General Lavalle went into his tent and took a nap.

While General Lavalle was napping a servant woman was preparing “la lechada” for the camp. “La lechada” is prepared by heating sugar and milk. The woman went to speak to General Manuel de Rosas in his tent, but when she entered, she discovered the enemy. She didn’t know about the treaty that the two generals were about to make, so she ran to find soldiers. General Manuel de Rosas arrived moments before the soldiers, and stopped them from waking the sleeping General Lavalle.

In the chaos, the woman forgot about “la lechada.” When she remembered and checked on “la lechada,” she noticed that it had become a dark brown jelly substance. It is said that a very brave and hungry soldier tried the jelly and then dulce de leche was born.

You can make your own Dulce de Leche and here is the recipe:

Dulce de Leche from sugar

Ingredients:
3 liters of milk
2 tablespoons of vanilla
1 teaspoon of baking soda
800 grams of fine sugar

How to prepare:
1) Add all the ingredients to a large pot in this order.
2) Milk, sugar, vanilla and then baking soda.
3) Place over a low low fire and stir slowly
4) Continue stirring until it becomes thick and brown.
5) The preparations can take +- 2 hours

Argentina also exports Dulce de Leche. Why? Because it is so good!