ExploFood · North America
What to eat in Haiti
Five dishes to try in Haiti, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Haiti
Griot Griyo
Pork shoulder marinated in citrus, braised and then fried until crisp.
How to have it: Served with fried plantain and pikliz, a spicy pickled cabbage relish; a party and weekend dish.
Soup joumou Soup joumou
Squash soup with beef, pasta and vegetables, a symbol of Haitian independence.
How to have it: Traditionally eaten on 1 January, Independence Day, and in many homes on Sunday mornings.
Diri djon djon Diri ak djon djon
Rice cooked black with the broth of dried djon djon mushrooms.
How to have it: Often served at celebrations next to griot or fried fish; vegetarian unless cooked with meat stock.
Bannann peze
Green plantain slices fried, pressed flat and fried again until crisp.
How to have it: Comes on the side of griot and fried chicken; street vendors sell it with pikliz.
Akasan
Thick warm drink of cornmeal, milk, cinnamon and vanilla.
How to have it: A breakfast drink sold by morning street vendors, often taken with bread.
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Questions
What food is Haiti famous for?
Griot (pork shoulder marinated in citrus, braised and then fried until crisp) comes first on our list, followed by Soup joumou, Diri djon djon, Bannann peze and Akasan.
What is the national dish of Haiti?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Haiti is Griot: pork shoulder marinated in citrus, braised and then fried until crisp. Served with fried plantain and pikliz, a spicy pickled cabbage relish; a party and weekend dish.
Which dishes in Haiti are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Diri djon djon, Bannann peze and Akasan. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What do people drink in Haiti?
Akasan: thick warm drink of cornmeal, milk, cinnamon and vanilla.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.