Habichuela con Dulce
Learn how to make Habichuela con dulces, a traditional Dominican dessert made with beans, milk, and spices.
Ingredients
- 4 cans 2 lbs red kidney beans
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cups granulated sugar (adjust to your liking)
- 10 cloves
- 1 tbsp + ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Dominican vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tbsp butter
- Dominican milk cookies for serving
- Optional: Raisins and boiled batata cubes Dominican yam
Instructions
Cook the Beans
- Drain and rinse the red kidney beans thoroughly. In a large pot, boil them in fresh water with a bit of cinnamon for 25 minutes. This not only softens the beans but also begins layering flavor early. Let them cool in the water after cooking.
Blend and Strain
- Add the beans, some of the cinnamon-infused cooking water (less than a cup), and all of the milk types into a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Then, strain the mixture into a large heavy-bottomed pot, using a fine mesh strainer to discard any pulp. Only the smooth bean milk should remain.
Sweeten and Spice
- Add the sugar, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, vanilla, and a pinch of salt to the pot. If you’re adding raisins or batata, toss them in now too.
Stir (and Don’t Stop)
- Cook the mixture over medium-low heat for about 45 minutes, stirring constantly. This is the most important part of the process. The sugar can burn quickly, so consistent stirring ensures even cooking and creamy texture.
Serve
- Serve warm or chilled, garnished with Dominican milk cookies. It thickens as it cools and becomes even more delicious the next day.