The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Haitian Foods. If you manage to be in an Haitian restaurant or you are visiting Haiti, I recommend the following:
1. Poulet Aux Noix
This is a Haitian dish based on chicken and cashew nuts. The chicken must be seasoned and the cashew nuts used in the dish must be raw. The chicken pieces, such as thighs and drumsticks, are marinated, steamed and then fried with chopped tomatoes, onions and tomato sauce to give the meat a golden colour. This dish is traditionally prepared for Sunday lunch and is usually served with rice with djon-djon or rice and peas.
2. Griot
Famous Haitian cultural food made with marinated fried pork. This common dish is also a favourite choice for all kinds of public gatherings such as Easter, Good Friday and Christmas. The crispy texture of the pork and the aroma provided by the spicy marinade gives it a unique flavour.
3. Joumou
A traditional pumpkin soup, usually cooked with beef, goat meat, fish fillets and chicken are also used for some variations. In addition to pumpkins or courgettes, the thick and aromatic joumou also contains other vegetables, beef and spices such as thyme, parsley and chilli.
4. Makawoni au Graten
This is no ordinary macaroni and cheese. Haitian makwoni au gratin differs from macaroni and cheese in the noodles: there is no macaroni here, replacing it with larger pasta such as macaroni and macaroni, and some unusual flavours such as mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and white pepper. All the ingredients are usually served in a pot and sprinkled with grated cheese such as parmesan or cheddar. Some cooks like to add other tasty ingredients, such as chopped ham or chicken.
5. Tchaka
Haitian Tchaka is a hearty stew made with dried corn, beans, pumpkin and smoked pork, especially pork shank. Although chaka is easy to make, it requires slow cooking to get the full flavour, so it takes a long time. The stew is served hot, preferably with pickles.
6. Legim
Influenced by African culinary traditions, legim is a popular Haitian dish with many variations of ingredients. It usually consists of a variety of mixed vegetables cooked together with meat (usually beef) and then minced. It usually contains cabbage, aubergine, watercress, green beans, carrots and chayote. The stew is traditionally prepared on Saturdays and is usually served with cornmeal or rice.
7. Haitian Patty
These are small puff pastry cubes filled with various meats such as beef, chicken, pork and even fish. Often served at many special events and celebrations, Haitian Patties can also be served with rice and beans for a hearty meal. Although they can be made at home, these pastries can also be purchased on the streets of Haiti, where food vendors sell freshly made pastries.
8. Bouillon Soup
It is a hearty, slightly thick Haitian soup made with beef, yam, seaweed, cabbage, plantains, potatoes, peppers and celery. It is sometimes served with small meatballs made by rubbing flour into a small amount of broth. The soup got its name from the French word bouillir, which means to boil. It is recommended to serve the broth when it is very hot, preferably on a rainy day.
9. Pikliz
A Haitian condiment made from a combination of pickles such as shredded cabbage, carrots, onions, shallots and peppers. Pikliz is traditionally served with fried pork (griot), fried beef (tassot) or fried plantains, but can also be served with fish. The spice of this condiment is said to go very well with almost all freshly fried main dishes.
10. Tassot
Tassot is a traditional Haitian dish whose main ingredient is goat or beef. The cuts are usually marinated in a mixture of onion, orange and lemon juice. It is then fried to a crispy golden brown exterior. The dish is usually served with fried plantains, rice and beans or rice and mushrooms with a spicy sauce called ti malice.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Caribbean Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.