Habichuelas con Dulce

Name: Habichuelas con Dulce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Dominican
Ingredients: 500g red kidney beans, cooked until very soft; 400ml coconut milk; 400ml evaporated milk; 300g sugar; 2 cinnamon sticks; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 100g raisins; 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed; Pinch of salt; Pinch of ground nutmeg; Ground cloves to taste; Milk cookies (galletitas de leche) for serving

Habichuelas con Dulce (ah-bee-CHWE-las con DOOL-se)

Sweet Cream of Beans Dessert

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour 30 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 346 kcal

A unique Dominican dessert of pureed red beans cooked with coconut milk, evaporated milk, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins into a thick, creamy sweet pudding.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 8.0g

Carbs 56.0g

Fat 10.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

large pot blender strainer wooden spoon

Presentation Guide

Vessel: cup or small bowl

Garnishes: milk cookies on top, ground cinnamon

Accompaniments: galletitas de leche

Ingredients

500g red kidney beans, cooked until very soft
400ml coconut milk
400ml evaporated milk
300g sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g raisins
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
Pinch of salt
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Ground cloves to taste
Milk cookies (galletitas de leche) for serving

Instructions

1
Blend cooked beans with enough cooking liquid to make a smooth puree. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove skins.
2
Boil sweet potato cubes until tender, about ten minutes. Drain and set aside.
3
In a large pot, combine bean puree, coconut milk, evaporated milk, sugar, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a gentle boil.
4
Reduce heat and simmer thirty minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. The mixture should thicken to a creamy porridge consistency.
5
Add raisins, sweet potato, vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves. Cook ten more minutes until everything is well incorporated.
6
Serve warm or chilled in cups or bowls with milk cookies on top for dipping. It thickens further when cold.

💡

Did You Know?

During Semana Santa, Dominican families make huge batches of habichuelas con dulce and distribute them to neighbors, friends, and even strangers in a beloved communal tradition.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
blender
strainer
wooden spoon

Garnishing

milk cookies on top, ground cinnamon

Accompaniments

galletitas de leche

The Story Behind Habichuelas con Dulce

Habichuelas con dulce is one of the most distinctive desserts in all of Latin American cuisine, a sweet preparation of beans that surprises anyone who has never encountered it. The dish is inextricably linked to Lent and Holy Week, when it is prepared in enormous quantities and shared throughout communities. Its origins likely reflect the creative ingenuity of making satisfying desserts during Lenten fasting periods when rich ingredients were restricted.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lent and semana santa exclusively 📜 Origins: Colonial-era Lenten tradition

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