On January 1st, Haitians’ all around the world celebrate Haitian Independence Day and the dawn of the New Year. On that day, Haitians’ reconnect with friends, family and neighbors, by visiting each other and by preparing a large feast. The most anticipated part of the day is the tradition of preparing and sharing a bowl of pumpkin soup first thing in the morning. Eating the soup early in the morning brings good fortune and represents the importance of community and family among the Haitian people.
Pumpkin Soup & Independence
In the 1700’s the French took control of Haiti from Spain and continued the barbaric tradition of slavery where they enlisted the slaves to cultivate sugarcane, cocoa as well as other staples. The French would eat the delicious pumpkin soup prepared by the slaves but the slaves themselves were not allowed to consume it. The slaves rose up against the French colonists and in 1804 overthrew them, creating the first Independent African-American nation in the new world. The slaves celebrated their independence that day by preparing, eating and sharing the forbidden pumpkin soup with each other as a symbol of what they could achieve when they worked together.
Haitian Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef neck bones
- 2 pounds calabaza pumpkin, peeled and cut
- 1 pound cabbage
- 6 potatoes
- 1 lime
- 2 scallions
- 1 onion
- 2 carrots
- 2 celery stalks
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 chives, minced
- 1 green pepper
- 1/2 cup of macaroni or other pasta
- Season to taste with salt, pepper, hot peppers and garlic
Directions
- In a large pot cook pumpkin in 6 cups or water or broth for 30 minutes.
- While the pumpkin is cooking, clean the meat with lemons or lime.
- Marinate the meat with the scallions, onion, garlic, shallot, chives, green peppers and chosen spices for an hour.
- Or you can marinate the meat overnight for added taste.
- In a pot add the meat and the pumpkin to cook for about 40 minutes.
- Add the potatoes, celery, cabbage, carrots and green pepper
- Add the pasta and season to taste
- Cook uncovered for about 25 minutes
Enjoy your soup with Family and Friends
Tradition is very important to the Haitian people and partaking of this most special of Haitian recipe, represents one of the most important and rituals that connects Haitians all over the world, uniting them as one. Please Invite your family, friends and neighors to enjoy the piping hot soup first thing in the morning and add hot rolls or biscuists to dip into the soup to enjoy every drop.
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