Habichuelas con Dulce (Dominican Sweet Creamed Beans)
Local name: Habichuelas con dulce
In short: A creamy, spiced dessert soup of mashed red beans, coconut and evaporated milk, sugar, cinnamon and sweet potato, topped with crisp cookies. It takes about 2 h 30 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 2 h 10 min
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 2 h 30 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Habichuelas con dulce is the sweet bean dessert that Dominican families cook for Holy Week, when it is shared with neighbors and relatives. Red beans are cooked until very soft, pureed with milk and coconut milk, and simmered with sugar, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla until thick and creamy. Cubes of sweet potato and raisins go in near the end, and each bowl is topped with crisp milk cookies. It is served warm or cold. The texture is like a silky pudding.
Instructions
- Put the soaked beans and water in a large pot. Boil hard for 10 minutes, then simmer partly covered for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until the beans are completely soft and falling apart.
- Cool for 10 minutes. Blend the beans with their cooking liquid in batches until smooth, then strain through a sieve, pressing on the solids, to remove the skins.
- Return the puree to the pot. Add the coconut milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring so it does not stick or scorch, until it thickens slightly.
- Add the sweet potatoes and raisins and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the potato is tender but still holds its shape.
- Remove the cinnamon sticks and cloves. Stir in the vanilla and taste for sugar. The dessert thickens as it cools, so thin it with a little milk if needed.
- Serve warm or chilled in small bowls, topped with crushed cookies.
Tips
- To save time, use two 400 g (14 oz) cans of red beans with their liquid, blend them, and skip the first simmer.
- Strain the puree for a silky texture. Without straining, the dessert will be coarser and more rustic.
Questions and answers
Why is habichuelas con dulce made at Easter?
It is the traditional dish of Holy Week (Semana Santa) in the Dominican Republic, when families cook a large pot to share with neighbors and relatives.
Is habichuelas con dulce served hot or cold?
Both are common. Many people eat it warm on the day it is made and chilled the next day, when it has thickened further.
Can I make habichuelas con dulce dairy-free?
Yes. Use extra coconut milk or an unsweetened plant milk in place of the evaporated and whole milk, and add a little more sugar to taste.
How long does it take to make Habichuelas con Dulce (Dominican Sweet Creamed Beans)?
About 2 h 30 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 2 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Habichuelas con Dulce (Dominican Sweet Creamed Beans)?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 12 g of protein, 61 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 12 g |
| Carbohydrates | 61 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 9 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 180 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
