Boniato Pudding, Jalea de Batata

Dulce de Batata, is a boniato pudding also called Jalea de batata in Spanish. It is another known favorite dessert in the traditional Dominican cuisine. Its main ingredient is the batata, also known as boniato, camote or sweet potato. There are different ways of preparing this dessert, and I am going to share with you how to prepare it with pineapple or without pineapple and a few adaptations in the notes. I hope that you can prepare this delicious pudding recipe soon, because it is just the perfect sweet to serve around the afternoon hours!

En español AQUÍ.

This is one of my husband’s favorite desserts, so that would explain why I used a heart presentation with edible begonia flowers at the end, that was the serving for my love :) As I have said in the past, Valentine’s Day is every day for me, and even after the blessing of being married for twenty-one years, I never get tired of serving him everything I can in a heart shape, lol. So far this year I have made this dessert about five times, I even sent some to our family in Florida, so you could imagine how much we like it at home.

Dulce de Batata con Piña (Boniato with Pineapple)

Ingredients:

3 pounds of sweet potatoes unpeeled (batatas)
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups of coconut milk = 1 can of 13.5 oz (400 ml)
1 cup of crushed pineapple with its juices (10 oz. = 285 g)
2 cups of sugar or to taste
2 cinnamon sticks
¼ teaspoon of ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
3 teaspoons of vanilla
2 egg yolks + 2 teaspoons of milk (optional)
ground cinnamon for topping (optional)

Preparation:
1. Peel and cut into cubes and boil sweet potatoes in water with the teaspoon of salt until they are tender.

2. In a large caldero or thick bottom pot, place the drained sweet potatoes while they are still hot and mashed them, add the milk of coconut, pineapple, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Cook over high heat until it thickens slightly, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot it takes about 25 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Dilute the egg yolks with the two tablespoons of milk and vanilla; add this mixture slowly to the dulce de batata stirring quickly while adding. Return to medium fire until it thickens and the yolks are fully incorporated and well cooked. You must mix well and scrape the sides of the pot to incorporate the yolks completely by stir continuously for 5-7 minutes.

4. Pour into a large bowl or bowls where it will serve and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top. Leave to cool and then take to the refrigerator. Serve cold.

Notes:
a) Variations:
- you could also add ½ - 1 cup of grated coconut.
-Replace coconut milk for whole milk, evaporated milk or light coconut milk. If you use light coconut milk it comes out a little opaque, but still just as delicious.
-Also you can mix the milk, for example: a cup of evaporated milk and cup of coconut milk.

b) you can omit the egg yolks, many people prepare this dessert without them, but I feel that it makes it more creamy.

Recipe for Boniato Pudding without Pineapple

Boniato pudding .

Jalea de Batata

Ingredients:
3 pounds of sweet potatoes unpeeled
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups of coconut milk = 1 can of 13.5 oz (400 ml)
1 cup wholemilk or evaporated milk
2 cups of sugar or to taste
2 cinnamon sticks
¼ teaspoon of ground cloves
¼ teaspoon of gound ginger
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 egg yolks + 2 Tablespoons of milk (optional)

Preparation:
1. Peel and cut into cubes and boil sweet potatoes in water with the teaspoon of salt until they are tender.

2. In a large caldero or thick bottom pot place the drained sweet potatoes while they are still hot and mashed them, add the milk of coconut, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Cook over high heat until it thickens slightly, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot it takes about 25 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Dilute the egg yolk with the two tablespoons of milk and vanilla; add this mixture slowly to the dulce de batata stirring quickly while adding. Return to medium fire until it thickens and the yolks are fully incorporated and well cooked. You must mix well and scrape the sides of the pot to incorporate the yolks completely by stir continuously for 5-7 minutes.

4. Pour into a large bowl or bowls where it will serve and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top. Leave to cool and then take to the refrigerator. Serve cold.