Habichuelas Con Dulce – Dominican Sweet Beans
Habichuelas Con Dulce is an exceptionally delicious sweet bean and coconut dessert from the Dominican Republic. It is very easy to make and packed with delicious heart-warming flavors.
And arguably, the best part is that this is a chilled dessert, making it perfect for summers and winters! Read on to learn exactly how I make my version.
What Is Habichuelas Con Dulce?
Habichuelas Con Dulce, also commonly known as Dominican sweet beans, is a traditional Dominican Republic dessert that is made around Easter.
This dessert is primarily made from red beans, a few winter spices, coconut milk, batata, evaporated milk, raisins, salt, and sugar. It is an incredibly easy dessert to make from scratch. My recipe is packed with lots of flavors that complement each other well.
However, you will need to put some time aside to make this dessert. The beans and batata take a while to cook. And you need to chill the liquid completely before you can serve it.
You can serve my Habichuelas Con Dulce recipe alongside store-bought milk cookies or casabe flatbread. You can also have this sweet dessert after making another authentic Dominican Republic recipe, such as Sancocho Dominicano or Dominican Kipes.
What Do You Need To Make My Habuchuelas Con Dulce Recipe?
There are a couple of essential ingredients that you have to use for this recipe. If you cannot find them, try to use one of my substitutes.
The first is red beans. It is the traditional option, but you can also use pinto beans. They are relatively easy to find and don’t take as long to cook.
The second must-add ingredient is coconut milk. I always use organic coconut milk because it has the best flavor and texture. You can also use coconut cream for a thicker and creamier dessert.
Another crucial ingredient to add is evaporated milk. The substitutes for this option are limited. And it would be best to use real evaporated milk. But, if you have no other choice, you can check out this list of options that could work.
And finally, you have to add batata. Batata is a type of white sweet potato. You can use regular purple sweet potatoes if you have to.
The other ingredients in this recipe that are, to some extent, very flexible are the spices and the amount of sugar.
And, what about the raisins? Well, they are technically must-add ingredients. But I know many people are not a fan at all for some reason. So, if you want to swap it out (or leave it) that’s perfectly fine. But I do still recommend adding them in.
Variations For This Dominican Sweet Beans Recipe
There are many regional variations of this dessert. Most of them vary in the spices and dairy that they use.
You can use different amounts of the spices in my recipe, but some people also add ginger, allspice, star anise, cardamom, fennel, and similar seasonings.
You can also make my recipe completely vegan by using plant-based dairy products. It will also make it more suitable for people who are lactose-intolerant. I personally love using rice and almond dairy products.
If you want to use a healthier sugar alternative, have a look at this list.
FAQs
How many calories does Habichuelas Con Dulce have?
One serving (1 cup) of your average cream of beans with coconut recipe contains about 415 calories. Habichuelas Con Dulce is a calorie-dense dish that is also high in sugar. But of course, there is nothing wrong with treating yourself every now and then.
What can you serve with this Dominican sweet bean dish?
Traditionally, Habichuelas Con Dulce is served with milk crackers or milk cookies. You can also serve it with toasted casava bread (casabe) or regular toast if you have to.
How long does Habichuelas Con Dulce last?
After this dish has initially been cooled, it won’t last longer than three days. Always keep it inside the fridge in an airtight container. Make sure that the container is free of other odors.
More Sweet Desserts
Habichuelas Con Dulce Recipe – Delicious Dominican Sweet Beans
Ingredients
- 6 cups water for boiling
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 5 cups red or pinto beans
- 1 pound batata, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup milk
- 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk
- 1 can (24 ounces) evaporated milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 can Condensed milk
- 8 whole cloves
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 ounces (1.5 packets) small round milk crackers
Instructions
Prepare the beans
- Put the beans in a medium-sized bowl, cover them with water and let them soak overnight.
- To start, combine the water, one cinnamon stick, and the beans in a large pot. Place the lid on the pot and cook it over medium heat for 45-60 minutes.
- Once the beans are completely cooked and soft, remove them from the pot and place them into a blender. Keep about 1/2 cup of cooked beans aside as well as the water they were cooked in and set it aside.
- Next, add 2 cups of beans, 1 cup of milk, and 1 cup of water to the blender. Blend until you have a completely lump-free runny mixture. If the mixture is too thick, add more of the bean water or milk. There will be tiny red specks through the mixture, which is perfectly normal.
- Next, add the reserved 1/2 cup of cooked beans to a large pot. Crush them a little using a fork. Then, strain the blended bean liquid into the pot. You will need to scrape the sieve to allow all the liquid to pass. Toss the remaining bean paste that's left in the sieve.
Cook the batata
- While your beans are cooking on the stove, simultaneously cook your batata.
- Add your cubed batata to a large pot and cover it with water. Then, bring the water to a boil over high heat with the lid on. Cook the batata for about 15 minutes, you don't want them to be completely cooked through.
Finish the Habichuelas Con Dulce
- To finish this Habichuelas Con Dulce recipe, add the remaining ingredients; sugar, coconut milk, evaporated milk, leche Condensada, salt, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and the pre-cooked batata, to the cooking blended bean mixture.
- Then, over medium-low heat, allow the mixture to cook for about 20-25minutes. It shouldn't simmer or boil.
- Once it has finished cooking, remove it from the heat. You can serve it hot or you can cool it down at room temperature.
- Pour your hot or chilled Habichuelas Con Dulce into cups and serve it with milk crackers on top. Enjoy!
