5 Haitian Recipes Every Haitian Woman Should Know

By : | 34 Comments | On : September 20, 2014 | Category : Cooking Tips

5 Haitian Recipes

We all know that one Haitian woman who for some unknown reason was never taught to cook Haitian food by her mom, aunt, or grandmother. We’ll we’re here to help. Here are 5 Haitian recipes every Haitian woman should know. Let us know if you agree with our list.

1. Rice and Beans (Diri Kole)

haitian rice and beans

Rice and Beans are pretty much at the core of every Haitian Meal. Don’t even invite a fellow Haitian to dinner if u aren’t serving some sort of rice dish. It ain’t natural to us. This should be the first of many Haitian recipes you master.

2. Haitian Stewed Chicken (Poule en Sauce)

HaitianCooking.com Stewed chicken

HaitianCooking.com Stewed chicken

Stewed chicken is the most common source of protein in Haiti and the U.S. You can never go wrong with chicken. Stewed chicken is easy simple and can be paired with a variety of sides. Just make sure you clean the chicken using the Haitian meat cleaning process.

3. Boiled Plantain (Bannann Bouyi)

Boiled Plantains from HaitianCooking.com

Plantains from HaitianCooking.com

Boiled plantains are pretty much the easiest Haitian recipe with the biggest return, but even I have messed this up in the past. Timing is everything with this recipe. Let it boil to long and you end up with mush. Remove it too early and you’ll end up with a very dry tasteless meal.

4. Haitian Spaghetti (Espageti)

Haitian Spaghetti

Haitian Spaghetti (espageti) from haitiancooking.com

It sounds weird, but spaghetti is typically a breakfast food in Haiti. In the U.S. it has transitioned to a lunch meal. If you can’t get this right, stick to boiled plantains and scrambled eggs for breakfast.

5. Black bean Soup (Sos Pwa)

blackbeansoup

blackbeansoup
haitiancooking.com

If you are cooking white rice, it better be with a side of black bean soup and we aren’t talking about cann beans. You better start off with dried beans and boil the hell out of those beans.

Do you agree? Post a comment below and let us know which ones we missed.

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Comments (34)

  1. posted by tina on September 20, 2014

    This list is pretty much on point…especially since these are the ONLY Haitian dishes I know how to make! đŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. posted by Urbi Nehesy Femi on September 23, 2014

    Sos pwa

      Reply
  3. posted by Urbi Nehesy Femi on September 23, 2014

    I don’t see the hard dough bread(Haitian bread)

      Reply
    • posted by Randy on November 11, 2014

      Yes, how do you make that!

        Reply
  4. posted by estha misere on September 27, 2014

    thank you for posting all these recipes, I enjoy them seem like you know my Haitian people very well. you are speaking to me. keep the good job God bless!!

      Reply
    • posted by HaitianCooking on October 4, 2014

      Thanks for the support. We really appreciate it.

        Reply
  5. posted by Chevonne on October 30, 2014

    Im an American that can cook southern food well. But I married a Haitian Man! and while he loves the different taste of my southern food, some times he craves his own soul food. His favorite Legume! I had to find the recipe and learn to make it. His mom came to spend about two months with us and boy did we enjoy the eating. Thanksfor shring these recipes. Akosan she makes as a breakfast dish. Well worth the pounds!

      Reply
    • posted by Barbara on November 24, 2014

      Same for me, Haitian man. I am Italian but, sometime he needs to eat his own food, and I understand that. We have to buy it. I never met my mother-in-law so, no help from there. Gotta learn!!

        Reply
    • posted by Daniel on January 20, 2017

      I’m a haitian Man and currently lives in kansas city Mo, my ex wife tries her best to make me some haitian dishes..sometimes she is on point other times…well you know lol. All i can do is encourage to keep on trying eventually she will nail. If not for me but to give our 2 daughters a taste of my culture that they are missing due to us moving from florida..

      Haitian Capital #2

        Reply
    • posted by AstrĂ©e SurĂ©na-Lovell on August 8, 2020

      I am glad you enjoyed you MIL ‘s cooking. Nothing like a well seasoned Haitian food. I LIKE Southern cooking.

      BTW….proper spelling for the breakfast food is AKASSAN.

        Reply
  6. posted by Thank you on December 14, 2014

    I didn’t pay attention to my sisters cooking when I should have ( my mom passed) thank you for giving me a chance to learn and share the delicious food with my child and husband!!

      Reply
  7. posted by Marie on May 14, 2015

    I would love to make legume ak kaprit! One of my family’s favourite.

      Reply
    • posted by AstrĂ©e SurĂ©na-Lovell on August 8, 2020

      Hello.

      …..kabrit.

        Reply
  8. posted by Ahmir on June 19, 2015

    I am an American born Haitian bred man. I have some deficiencies when it comes to being a man in the kitchen. I have alot of men cooks in my family but my father wasn’t one of them! LOL. I’m what some would consider as a ‘Chip off the ole block’! But I digress, this website has me wanting to put on an apron and giving it a go. The way you break down the recipes with such simplification makes feel ashamed that I haven’t been cooking sooner!

      Reply
  9. posted by Franklyne on November 25, 2015

    I love this site. Thank you for posting. I don’t cook often. So this is a great way to refresh my memory on my favorite Haitian dishes. Keep up the good work, keep posting đŸ™‚

      Reply
  10. posted by Nita Beeta on November 29, 2015

    So happy to have found your site! My husband of 7y is Haitian and I have wanted to give him a taste of home after a hard working day. He says my meals that I learn from your site are pretty spot on! Thank you because he works hard to support his families in both Haiti and the states, and it is good to see him smile and spark conversation about his visits home while shoving this good food in his face! đŸ™‚

      Reply
  11. posted by GEC on January 19, 2016

    I just returned from Haiti and loved these basic meals. Can’t wait to try your recipes!

      Reply
  12. posted by Sandra on January 30, 2016

    You forgot grio, diri djon djon, tasso , legume & boullion.

      Reply
  13. posted by Faith on February 12, 2016

    Praying to get married one day ( God willing). So I’m using this single season to learn how to cook. Thanks for easy to follow steps đŸ™‚

      Reply
  14. posted by Rose on March 13, 2016

    Another important food is labouyi (mais, farin, bannan, avwann) very important as breakfast or a meal before bed đŸ™‚

      Reply
  15. posted by Lisy on March 26, 2016

    When boiling the plantain a few drop of lime juice is require, so the plantain can look good and tasty.

      Reply
    • posted by AstrĂ©e SurĂ©na-Lovell on August 8, 2020

      Hello.
      I learned something new, thanks.

        Reply
  16. posted by Gina on August 24, 2016

    You don’t have to add salt to the green plantain when boiling them, especially if with you are going to eat them with a meat dish. Boiling the water before is also unnecessary. I have been boiling plantain all my life, 3 to 4 drops of lemon or lime juice keep the plantain from turning dark.

      Reply
  17. posted by Jenn on January 18, 2017

    A few drops of vinegar also prevents the plaintain from changing color

      Reply
  18. posted by Joujou on February 25, 2017

    You totally got the list, especially the sos pwa…..I just made some last week after not having some for years. The only things I would add is a recipe for grio…Haitians love their grio!

      Reply
  19. posted by JANEAI on March 22, 2017

    IT’S FUNNY I’M HAITIAN BLOOD BUT RAISED IN AMERICA AND THIS IS ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO LOL

      Reply
  20. posted by Donielle on April 26, 2017

    My husband is from Haiti born and bred. He makes these staples almost every meal. I’m Italian, he likes what I cook but he can’t go without rice and beans or plaintains.

      Reply
  21. posted by Olivia on May 19, 2017

    I would love to have aa Haitian cook book for you. If anything!!!!!

      Reply
  22. posted by LJ on January 9, 2018

    I would change that to ‘every Haitian.’
    Marriage is a partnership.
    Be well.

      Reply
  23. posted by Andrea on August 24, 2018

    Definitely Haitian women AND men should know this, especially if you plan on dating outside of your culture. I am half Haitian and my dad taught me!!

      Reply
  24. posted by Sondra on November 18, 2018

    Legume & Piklese.

      Reply
  25. posted by eli richardson on November 13, 2019

    How interesting to know that Haitians eat spaghetti for breakfast. An exchanged student if our college invited us to eat at a Haitian restaurant. I will keep in mind these dishes so I will know what to order.

      Reply
    • posted by AstrĂ©e SurĂ©na-Lovell on August 8, 2020

      Hello Mr. Richardson.

      You will need to have a Haitian person prepare this dish for you. It is absolutely different in flavor, and the way it’s cooked. After cooking the HaĂ¯tian spaghetti, if it’s not sitting in a bath of oil, something is missing…..please ask a Haitian cook about this….lol.
      Because breakfast is eaten quite early, this dish will sustain you until lunch time.

        Reply
  26. posted by Maria on June 14, 2020

    I would add Du Rix avec Djon Djon next to the Du Rix Kole. I would also make Soup Joumou mandatory because that is our breakfast, lunch and dinner when New Years Day comes.

      Reply

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