All About Haitian Food
Overview of Haiti
Haiti is located in near Cuba in the Caribbean and shares an island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. During the time of Christopher Columbus the island was inhabited by 5 Taino tribes who referred to the Haitian part of the island as Ayiti. Settlements were established there by Columbus, French buccaneers, English and the Dutch. Over 800,000 slaves were brought to western portion of the island to work on the sugar plantation and would eventually form the first Black republic after an uprising.
About Haitian Food
Similar to most of the foods in the Caribbean, Haitian food consists of many origins with a few differences. Haitian food is influenced by French, African, and Spanish foods with Taino roots. Typical meals include imported rice, local vegetables, and meats native to the island. Meals tend to be mildly spicy with the use of scotch bonnet peppers. Most dishes start with a pesto base, which consist of several different types of herbs, peppers, and spices. Like all cultures Haitian cuisine has unique soups, pastries, and various dishes that bring some interest to the mundane dishes eaten daily in our country.
List of Popular Haitian Foods
- Fired Pork (Griot)
- Pumpkin Soup (Soup Joumou)
- Cremas
- Rice and Bean (Diri ak Pois)
- Beef Stew (Bouyon)
- Black Mushroom Rice (Diri ak Jon Jon)
Popular Haitian Ingredients
- Plantains
- Scotch Bonnet Peppers
- White Rice
- Malanga
- Peppers
- Beans
- Papaya
- Pork
- Chicken
