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Habichuelas con Dulce (Dominican Sweet Beans) served in small white bowls and topped with galletas de leche.
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5 from 1 vote

Habichuelas con Dulce (Dominican Sweet Beans)

Habichuelas con Dulce (Dominican Sweet Beans) is a Dominican dessert served for Easter made with beans and other aromatic ingredients that is just delicious!
Prep Time50 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dominican
Servings: 8
Calories: 366kcal
Author: Catherine Arena

Equipment

  • 1 large pot for cooking dessert
  • pressure cooker or Instant Pot to cook the dry beans but not necessary

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dry small red beans can also use Roman or kidney beans
  • 2 cans evaporated milk
  • 1 13 oz can condensed milk
  • 1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
  • 1½ cups light brown sugar
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 8 whole cloves
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 lb Caribbean sweet potato (optional to add) skin and cut into 1-inch chunks (Note: Although this step is traditional, it is optional. If you cannot find Caribbean sweet potato (batata), this dessert is still excellent without it.)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup raisins or to your liking optional
  • Galletas de Leche or Animal Crackers

Instructions

Preparing the Beans for Cooking

  • Pour dry beans into a bowl and sift through the beans. Discard any "rock or debris" that you may find in dry beans.
  • Rinse the dry beans under cool water and drain.

Cooking the Beans in an Instant Pot

  • Add the beans to the pot with enough water to cover plus more that the water is about three inches above the beans.
  • Place lid on Instant Pot and place the valve on the “seal” setting.
    Cook on High Pressure for 50 minutes.
  • When the instant pot beeps, allow it to do a natural release or wait about 20 minutes before doing a quick release.

For a Regular Pressure Cooker

  • Add the beans and cover with about 1 ½ inches of hot water over the level of the beans.
    Note: Be sure to not fill the cooker over halfway.
    Cook for 45 minutes. Turn off stove.
  • Allow pressure to release before opening the lid.

Stovetop Instructions

  • Add the beans to the pot with enough water to cover plus more that the water is about three inches above the beans.
  • Cook beans semi-covered with a lid over medium heat for 2 hours or until fully tender.

Making the Habichuelas con Dulce

  • Add half of the beans from the pot with some of the water they have cooked in, plus half a can of evaporated milk to a blender.
    Blend until the beans are very smooth.
    Pour the blended beans into a large bowl.
  • Repeat the process with the rest of the cooked beans. Adding a little bit more of the water they have cooked in plus the rest of what's left of the evaporated milk.
    Blend again until the beans are very smooth.
  • Using a colander and a large pot, strain the bean mixture to catch any skin left from the beans to create a smooth mixture.
  • Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a low simmer and stir.
  • Add the other can of evaporated milk plus the coconut milk, and stir again.
  • Add the condensed milk and stir.
  • Add the brown sugar and stir.
  • Add the cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and whole cloves. Stir again.
  • Cook the mixture for 20 minutes stirring every few minutes in between.
    Note: It is important to stir the mixture every few minutes or the sugar will start to caramelize and burn the bottom of the pot.
  • Add the butter, vanilla extract, salt and raisins. Stir.
  • If adding the sweet potato (batata), first skin and cut into 1-inch cubes.
    Rinse and drain them.
  • Add the batata to the mixture, stir and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until tender, stirring the mixture in between cooking.

Serving

  • Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes and carefully strain again to get rid of cloves and cinnamon sticks.
    Add the raisins back into the mixture.
    Note: Some people do not bother straining out the whole cloves. However, accidentally biting into a whole clove is a bit unpleasant as they have a really strong flavor.
  • The habichuelas con dulce are ready to serve.

Serve Hot or Cold

  • This dessert can be served hot or cold.
    To serve hot, serve dessert immediately after cooking.
    To serve it cold, allow the mixture to cool some and then chill for a few hours in the refrigerator.
  • Serve in small bowls and top with the Galletas con Leche or animal crackers.

Nutrition

Serving: 8g | Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 398mg | Potassium: 559mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 259IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 292mg | Iron: 2mg