In my head paleta de batata (sweet potato popsicles) and summer are indelebly connected.
When I was a kid I spent many a summer in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of San Carlos, where one of my aunts lived. Back then it was the kind of old-fashioned middle class neighborhood you see in movies depicting the Spanish Caribbean. It was a quiet place of tranquil streets that lent itself to childhood exploration.
Besides the memories of Hurricane David pounding Santo Domingo into a pulp, the other clear memory I have of those days was walking every afternoon to buy helados de potecitos (homemade ice cream in baby food jars) at a neighbor’s house.
In the Santo Domingo of today, full of apartment buildings, not only has San Carlos become unrecognizable, but these childhood treats are probably long gone. Of all the flavors available in those days -some not very healthy – batata (sweet potato) was my favorite.
Some time ago I decided to recreate my favorite childhood treat.
Once I embarked on this project, I noticed that this is a very good option as an afternoon treat for the little ones. If you keep in mind not to overdo it with the sugar, it can be fairly nutritious.
As the Dominican saying goes: “Cuando el hambre da calor, la batata es un refresco” (when hunger makes you hot, sweet potatoes are like a cold drink). And if it is this insane heat to blame for it, make yourself a sweet potato popsicle.
Aunt Clara
Easy to make, refreshing and nutritious. Sweet potatoes popsicle is the perfect summer treat.
Ingredients
- 1 lb of sweet potatoes (purple skin, greenish flesh) peeled
- 2 cups of milk (whole or skim)
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup of sugar
Instructions
- Cut the sweet potatoes into small pieces. Boil until they are very soft.
- Remove from the water and cool to room temperature.
- Mix sweet potatoes, milk, coconut milk and vanilla and blend to a liquid state.
- Add sugar to taste.
- Pour into the molds (or plastic cups) and place the stick.
- Freeze.
Aunt Clara's Kitchen is a collection of traditional Dominican and Dominican-inspired recipes, home ideas, crafts, and the chronicles of Aunt Clara and Aunt Ilana's adventures.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m familiar with sweet potato in desserts, but don’t think I’ve ever had them this way! I can imagine it will be delicious.
leaf (the indolent cook) recently posted..honey quince tea
It is! It is very creamy and rich, half snack and half frozen treat.
Wow! I have forgotten about these! I grew up in San Carlos and my mother would give us two cents to buy the afternoon ”merienda (when she didn’t make the jugo de avena). Those two cents would buy me an ‘helado de potecito’; my favorites flavors were coconut and batata. I will definitely experiment with recipe. (Love the pics) Thank you!
Well, I am glad that I brought you memories of your childhood days. Let me know how your popsicles turn out.
Yo tambien recuerdo los helados que venian en la fundita amarrados en la punta. Yo los voy a tratar, pero voy a agregarle un poco de coco. Que recuerdos tan deliciosos! Gracias Tia Clara…
What an unusual popsicle flavour. Here in Australia sweet potatoes are very much considered a savoury food, but I love seeing sweet recipes using sweet potato. Your photos are absolutely stunning, especially the photo of the popsicles on the tray.
Jennifer @ Delicieux recently posted..Strawberry Meringue Cupcakes
Keep in mind that the sweet potato variety common here is very sweet. It’s one step away from dessert already. Of course you can use whatever sweet potato you find and add sugar to taste. I don’t think we Dominicans got the memo about what goes or not in a dessert. I think most of our cuisine started with the question “how can I can make a dessert with this?”. Whatever “this” is.
i am not a ice cream and wrote all about it in my most recent post which is a ice cream. Even though I don’t like ice cream I just loved making it at home
Yours looks fabulous and love that cute small bucket!
Kankana recently posted..Cherry Ice Cream
I read your ice cream post this morning when I saw the picture on Pinterest, and I am still recovering from the shock before I can comment on it.
Thank you for the recipe. I will make this for my kids.
I am not sure what you are talking about.
Ooh this one is good! I liked Kankana’s cherry ice cream too! I always discover a new dessert recipe when Im on a diet! Lol
Tia Clara where did you get those Popsicle molds from? They’re so official looking!
I got them from Amazon, I have a lot of molds.
How can I turn this recipe into ice cream?
¡Aún se venden los helados de funditas aquí en la Isla! Mi tia, que los hace mejor que nadie es de las pocas personas que aún los venden. Cuando vengas al país, avisame, y yo te invito a unos cuantos helados.
¡Excelente receta! Aún cuando no me gusta mucho el helado
LOS HICE Y QUEDARON UNA DELICIA, LOS VOLVERE A REPETIR FASCINANTE!!!…
This website is probably my new favorite! I went to the Dominican Republic and fell in love. The climate and culture were my idea of perfection. But most of all, I loved the food. My mouth started watering the second I even read the name of this website. I am sooooo grateful to you for posting this.
Gracie recently posted..Still life
Que gusto me das q esiste y q sigas llevabdo nuestras raises mas alla , lla me havia olvidado de lo rrico q es un helado de batata y claro con leche de coco lo boy a haser muchas gracis por todo besos .