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Local food map
Samana (Dominican Republic)
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Dessert
Vegetarian
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
480kcal
16gProtein
82gCarbs
13gFat
8gFibre
300 gServing
* Per serving · 300 g. May vary.
Allergens
🥛 Dairy
Habichuelas con Dulce
How to order / say it
Say it
Habichuelas con Dulce — [Ah-bee-chew-eh-las kohn Dool-seh]
Order
I'd like the sweet beans dessert, please.
Locally
Quisiera las habichuelas con dulce, por favor.
Say locally
Sweet dessert made from red beans and coconut.
Why try it?
An unusual yet cherished dessert in Samaná, blending the earthy flavor of beans with creamy coconut sweetness, often served during Easter and special events.
How it tastes
This dish is delightfully sweet with creamy smoothness, featuring cinnamon and nutmeg for warmth, and a velvety texture with subtle notes of vanilla.
Origin & History — first documented: 1750
Originating in the 18th century as a Lenten tradition, bean-based sweets were transformed with the introduction of coconuts, making it unique to Samaná.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🫘 300 g red beans
- 🥛 400 ml coconut milk
- 🥛 200 ml sweetened condensed milk
- 🧂 1 cinnamon stick
- 🧂 1 tsp nutmeg
- 🍯 50 g raisins
- 🍯 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 🍯 100 g sugar
Method
- 1 Boil beans with cinnamon stick until soft.
- 2 Blend beans to a puree and return to pot.
- 3 Stir in coconut milk, condensed milk, sugar, and spices, simmering until thickened.
More from Samaná
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Vegetarian
Moro de Guandules con Coco
Moh-roh deh Gwan-doo-lays kohn Koh-ko
Samaná's fragrant rice and pigeon peas cooked in coconut milk.
🥩
Soup
Meat
Bouillon de Chivo
Boo-yon deh Chee-vo
A hearty soup of goat meat and local spices.
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Street food
Meat
Pasteles en Hoja
Pahs-teh-lehs ehn Oh-ha
Plantain dough filled with meats and vegetables, wrapped and boiled.
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Main course
Fish & Seafood
Pescado con Coco
Pehs-kah-doh kohn Koh-koh
A traditional fish dish cooked in creamy coconut sauce.