Dulce de Batata — Argentine sweet-potato paste
Dulce de batata is an Argentine and Uruguayan sweet — orange-fleshed sweet potatoes cooked with sugar and (sometimes) cocoa or vanilla, then set into a firm, sliceable block. The chocolate-flavoured version with chunks of dark chocolate is the most famous. It is canonically eaten with fresh cheese.
i. Origin & history
Dulce de batata is one of the canonical Argentine "sweets eaten with cheese" — alongside dulce de membrillo (quince paste) and dulce de zapallo (pumpkin paste). The combination of sweet paste with sharp cheese is the canonical Argentine after-dinner serve.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 16 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 1 kg orange sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 500 g sugar
- 250 ml water
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 100 g dark chocolate (optional, for chocolate version)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Pinch salt
iii. Method
- Boil sweet potato in water until very soft (20 min). Drain and mash to a smooth purée.
- Combine sweet potato with sugar, water, lemon juice in a heavy pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens dramatically and pulls away from the sides (30-40 min).
- Off heat, stir in vanilla, salt and (if using) chopped chocolate — it will partly melt into the still-warm paste.
- Pour into a small loaf tin lined with parchment. Cool fully (4 hours) before turning out and slicing. Serve with sharp white cheese.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Dulce de batata con chocolate is the iconic Argentine version. Dulce de batata con vainilla is plain. Modern variations include orange or coconut.
vi. Common questions
What is dulce de batata?
Dulce de Batata is argentine sweet-potato paste, from latin american cuisine. The chocolate-flavoured version with chunks of dark chocolate is the most famous
Where is dulce de batata from?
Dulce de Batata is from the latin american dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does dulce de batata keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 3 weeks refrigerated.