Morir Soñando, an unusual mix, with a beautiful, poetic name is one of Dominicans’ favorite drinks. Truly heavenly.
Its name means “to die dreaming”, literally translated, and it could not have a more appropriate name. The silky milk and the refreshing taste of orange makes this a perfect drink to refresh, and nourish.
Morir soñando is uniquely-Dominican. One of a few dishes that don’t also exist in the rest of the Spanish Caribbean. I haven’t been able to track the origin of the drink, or how it came to acquire the name, but it’s clear that it has existed for generations in the Dominican Republic.
There is an old wive’s tale that says that people should not drink milk and orange juice together. Without the special order of preparation specified in the recipe the mix will curdle. That is the trick.
And trust me, it will be grand.
Morir soñando is usually served as a dinner drink, or mid-afternoon snack.
As a bonus to the thirst-quenching, heat-busting goodness of this drink, it is also very nutritious, and perfect as a snack for the little ones.
Aunt Clara
Morir soñando (Milk and orange juice, with an even more unusual name, should be the official drink of the Dominican summer. This easy recipe shows how to make it.Definitely a must try.
Ingredients
- 4 cups orange juice
- 1 cup of sugar
- 6 cups of whole milk
- 3 cup of ice cubes (may be crushed ice)
Instructions
- Mix the milk and sugar to taste. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved.
- Put the milk in the freezer until it is very cold.
- Add the ice cubes to the milk and stir. Slowly pour the orange juice into the milk while stirring constantly.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Other non-traditional options include using lime juice (half the amount of the orange juice) or passion fruit juice (same amount as orange juice.
The trick for the milk not to curdle is keeping the milk (and the whole drink afterward) at a very low temperature. Diabetics or those on low-carb diets take note, you can skip the sugar or use artificial sweetener instead.
If you are mindful of your fat consumption try substituting the whole milk for low-fat, the taste is slightly different but it works just fine.
If you are a vegan you can use soy milk instead of regular milk, the taste is different but still very delicious.
Aunt Clara's Kitchen is a collection of traditional Dominican and Dominican-inspired recipes, home ideas, crafts, and the chronicles of Aunt Clara and Aunt Ilana's adventures.
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{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
im dominican myself and this is one of my favorite drinks.
I think I tasted evaporated milk more than orange juice. I used one can (12 oz) evaported milk and 2 to 3 cups orange juice. Squeeze one lime and pour sugar to your own taste.
THIS WAS JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT MY GRANDMOTHER MAKES. I AGREE THAT I TASTED THE EVAPORATED MILK MORE THAN THE ORANGE JUICE BUT I DIDN'T MIND. IT WAS DELICIOUS. THANKS AUNT CLARA
Interesting.
I like mine "milkier". If I get another comment similar to yours then I will make a note on the recipe itself so people who like it with more of an orange taste can adjust it to their liking. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Love It! the only way I drink milk when I was little!
HEY U CAN ALSO TRY SOUR ORANGES IT TASTE JUST LIKE THE ONES THEY MAKE IN D.R IN THE SANDWICH SHOPS TRUST ME MY AUNT OWNS ONE IN SANFRANCISCO DE MACORIS AND SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE IT SO DELICIOUS
Ooo I’m from Macoris what’s the sandwich spot called?
Im doing a report on Dominican Republic and Im trying to make this for my class about 12 ppl can u help me with the ingriedents
The recipe serves 4. You just have to triple the ingredients. Bear in mind that it has to be served chilled and right away, so it's best if you mix it right before serving.
I had forgotten about this wonderful drink I grew up enjoying so much. I was surprised to see the recipe calling for evaporated milk as the one my abuela made for us was always made with regular milk. Also evaporated milk is very strong (more like the real deal-from the cow to the table) so people not used to the real deal will probably complain it tastes too milky.
Solution is simple: try whatever cow milk you drink now! It tastes great with whole milk and also with fat free milk. I'm sitting here typing while sipping from a huge glass of this most divine drink
That's an excellent point to make, Geo. Thanks for the tip.
For the first time in my life i had all of the ingredients in my refrigerator to actually try one of these recipes. I'm not a milk drinker at all, but with this recipe it makes white milk delicious. I used fat free skim milk and reduced calorie OJ with pulp. It was sweet and frothy. It will be perfect for a hot summer day. It reminded me of an orange milkshake.Yum!
i was introduce to this wonderful drink by my hairdresser 10yrs ago
and I've been drinking a glass a day after every workout [gym] it so
refreshing and because I'm a diabetic i too had to change the ingredients around too! [2% milk /splenda/ lite OJ/dash of cinnamon]
mix w/ice in blender……i love it and so dose my husband.
When I lived in Sosua, there was a gas station on the corner that made the best morir in the world. They used lime juice, though.
no matter how you prepare it, with more or less ingredients, Dominican cuisine is just delicious, specially with aunt clara's recipies.
Thanks!
Una receta de champola no estaria mal….
I was just sitting around in my studio and thought – what the hell I will put some together because I just got back from the store and had both in my little frig…did it, like it and wondered what would show up if I googled "milk & orange juice mix". Here I am discovering things about Dominican recipes and stomach acid response on milk – just gotta love this Brave New World we live in ;-]
Will have to try the variations these articles have brought to mind. It reminded me of an experience I had in rural Colombia back in the 70's when a fine campesino gentleman was milking a free ranging cow (a job in and of itself) with calf and squirted some fresh milk into a cup with some local red wine in it – so delicious it still brings a smile after all these years.
CLASS PROJECT HOPES ALL GOES WELL
this drink is the best i love itt so muchh i make it at home my selff and im from D.R
im gonna make this for a school project, my friend made this last year when he did the project and he LOVED it! I HOPE HE'S RIGHT!!!!
No pensé que me gustaría que este en un principio porque sonaba un poco raro, pero cuando traté de que me enamoré! Es bueno!
This stuff was amazing! I just mad it, and then chugged 2 cups of it!
i love this stuff! can you make it with other fruits?
how do you make this without ice???
You don't. Which is why the recipe calls for ice (ingredient no. 4).
I was really wanting to make this drink for a school project, but is it possible to make it the night before and serve the next morning? or will it be bad then?
It cannot be made beforehand. You can bring the ice, chilled, sweetened d milk and orange juice and mix them on the spot.
i agree that it was just a little milkier than i normally prefer. so i added a bit more orange juice plus the juice of one lemon, and it was delicious.
on a side note, i'd like to commend you for such an amazing collection of well-written dominican recipes. i recently stumbled across this site thanks to another blog called "the little cafe at the end of the world". since then i've made several of your recipes – pastelon de spaghetti, pastelon de berenjena con queso, & chulitos in addition to the morir soñando – and they have all turned out spectacularly. thanks, and keep up the good work!
I AM DOMINICAN AND I LOVEE THIS DRINK!! ITS TO DIE FORR!! THE THING THT MAKES IT THE BEST IS EVERYTIME I DRINK IT IT REMINDS ME OF HOME I GET SUCH A NICE MEMMORY! LOVEE MORIR SONANDO!! <3
Tia, I've turned this into a bodybuilder's drink lol. I use fat free milk, light orange juice, vanilla protein poweder, and ice. Put it in the blender and it's like sipping heaven through a straw.
My son did it he added vanilla protein and when I came home he said " mom I made a delicious one too"
I just made this at home and my roommate looked at me as if I had three heads…LOL it was actually pretty funny. I told her what it was and she wasn't convinced until she tasted it. She's half puerto rican half irish. I love showing her my traditional foods because it always gives me a kick how she reacts to things she says are "not normal". I loveeeeeee morir soñando! especially when I'm craving something just the right amount of sweet.
You could also add a little bit of lime juice
By the way some people even do it with Passion fruit instead of Orange juice and.its really good
wudabout egg?
I was introduced to this wonderful drink at one of the restaurants along the river by the waiter during my first visit to Santo Domingo and it was wonderful. I am sure, the waiter said that it was condensed milk that was used. In any case, I just gooogled it as I was telling my husband about it and am happy to find your recipe. Can't wait to share it with my family and friends.
I must say the food in DR was truly delicious.
I love this drink. My husband is Dominican and every time we visit, his mom makes this for us. However, I don't like the taste of the evaporated milk so I do add an extra cup or two of the orange juice and it tastes perfect.
I'm puerto rican ,married to a beautifull dominican woman and she made me this drink and i just love it so much i dont think she makes enogh.My new favorite drink.
Spread the word!
Milk & Orange juice!! Never knew they got along so well together! Looks beautiful, I am gonna try it!
Love this recipe! I´m going to make it, without the sugar, but I´m sure it will be delicious. Thanks for sharing. BTW, i love your blog.
can i use some other juice instead of orange juice..like guava or cranberry?
The recipe already mentions possible substitutions. Beyond that I can't make recommendations because I have never tried it and because you need citrus juice for this, which guava is not.
Good luck.
my fiance” is from the Dominican Republic an he said this drink taste like when he was little
Try adding vanilla extract to taste, what a great addition
The traditional drink may also be made with Carnation sweetened condensed milk in leu of mixing the milk and sugar. Dominican friends say this is the preferred preparation.
That is hope I learned how to make it.. .. With sweetened condensed milk I also knew people that added egg whites to get it frothy!
i have to do it but is for 20 ppl
I absolutely love this! I like it with whole milk, or evaporated milk. I make it just like this, but when my Father makes it, he uses an egg yolk. I’m not too sure what it does, and I am uncomfortable consuming raw eggs so I have not tried it. Not sure what the difference in taste is.
I love all of your recipes! I am currently making a flan for the first time, with your recipe!
I am new to this site. I would love to see a Panamanian Habenaro mustard sauce recipe. I love spicy. My neighbor gave me a jar made by her Panamanian mother-in-law. It is fabulous. I would like to make it myself.
Thanks and I am happy I found your site.
Hi Jane, I think this is the wrong blog to ask. I know little to nothing about Panamanian cooking.
Hi Clara just a quick question. My dad loves this drink but he is diabetic. Is there a way to make it suitable for him? Thank you in advance