What is eaten in Haiti? Discover its gastronomy

Like in many other countries, food is an important part of the culture in Haiti, a Caribbean country that shares the island with the Dominican Republic. With a cuisine influenced by African, French, and even Spanish and Indian flavors, Haitian gastronomy is vibrant and flavorful.Like the French, Haitians enjoy strong and spicy flavors like pepper in their meals, but unlike the typical Caribbean diet, they do not prefer overly spicy dishes.Among their staple foods, we can find pork, beef, and goat meats, poultry like chicken and turkey, and various fish; eggs and a variety of beans, chickpeas, soybeans, red beans, cassava, cornmeal, short-grain rice, and wheat are also among their staples.They have unique fruits, such as akí or akee, frutipan or marzipan, and jackfruit, as well as regional vegetables like djon-djon, a type of edible black mushroom, white carrots, and arrowroot, but also some more common ones, like chili peppers, corn, mushrooms, bell peppers, potatoes, squash, and sweet potatoes.The most common dish consumed by the average Haitian is called Ritz et Pois, which is probably considered the national dish and basically consists of rice and beans. No matter how they cook both the rice and the beans, and the additions they want to include, like pork, chicken, or beef, as long as the base is rice and beans, it will be Ritz et Pois. The Banann Peze is another common food, which consists of a variety of fried plantains in pork fat, or Djon-djon, harvested from Haiti, in which ground Haitian black mushrooms are used to turn the rice black and then topped with beans.Haitian Gastronomy, 3 must-try dishesGriyo (fried pork)When strolling through Haiti, you will surely see vendors selling their fritays all day long. Fritays are fried street foods like conch, plantains, and sausages, to name a few. One of the most popular street foods in Haiti is undoubtedly Griyo, a type of fritay made with fried and marinated pieces of pork. LambiThe Haitian menu is full of dishes where seafood is the main ingredient, especially conch. There are different styles of cooking Lambi: fried, grilled, sautéed… Cooking it as a stew with a tomato-based sauce is known as Lambi Criollo or stewed conch, and you have to order it if you see it in a local restaurant. Lambi can be very chewy if not cooked properly, so it’s best to ask locals for restaurant recommendations.Poulet Aux NoixThis Haitian dish is a specialty and a traditional dish in the northern part of the island. Cooked or served with a condiment called pikliz, this delicious chicken dish has the authentic flavor of Haitian cuisine with its spicy and rich taste, enhanced by a slow cooking method. The pieces of chicken are marinated overnight in a mixture of herbs and spices along with cashews, onions, peppers, and a mix of vegetables, and the Poulet Aux Noix is cooked in a thick tomato-based sauce. It is generally served with steamed white rice, and a portion of this spicy dish is perfect for a daily meal.