National Dish

If anyone want to know more about the history of Haitian cuisine, should first consider educating themselves in order to appreciate and understand the background behind Haitians delicious traditional foods.

Second of all, most Haitians are familiar and very aware of there political history as the only country in the Western Hemisphere to undergo a successful slave revolution.

The national dish on Haiti’s island is Fried Pork (Griot) with Rice & Beans. This cuisine features several varieties of rice and beans, such as the de facto national dish.

My husband, son and I had tried this national dish and it was more than delicious and unigue, it was amazingly finger licking good. As you should know, Haitian foods are usually not over seasoned, it is moderately spicy, not mild and not too hot.

Haiti national dish Fried Pork (Griot) with Rice & Beans is definitely worth trying. Haitian dishes really blends African methods with plenty of flavors from the French palette, to great effect.

Recipe

Fried Pork (Griot) with Rice & Beans

Ingredients

1 cup bitter orange juice
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
Dash of thyme
1 hot green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup shallots, chopped
1 Large onion, finely chopped
3 lbs shoulder of pork, cut 1″ to 2″cubes

For Riz et pois
2 cups long grain rice
4 cups of water
1 cup red kindney beans
1 onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, chopped

1 tbsp butter
2 tbsps vegetable oil salt

Optional side dish. Riz Djon-djon (this can be substituted for riz et pois colles)
4 cups of water
2 cups long grain rice
1 cup Haitian black mushrooms(dried)
2 cloves of garlic, finely chjopped
4 tbsps butter
Dash of Black pepper, salt & thyme

For Bananes Pesees
4 green plantains, sliced into 3/4 discs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Dash of salt

Instructions

Griots Preparation
Put all ingredients, except oil in a large pot and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Place the marinated pork on the stove, add water to cover all ingredients. Simmer for 90 minutes.

Once cooked, drain the mixture, add oil and fry the pork in the pot until brown and crusty on the outside, but tender on the inside.

Riz et pois(Rice & Peas ) Preparation
Pour the 4 cups of water into a pot, pour the beans into the water and cook for approximately 2 hours or until tender. Drain the beans, but keep the water( in a clean separate pot) to be used to cook the rice.

Next, fry the salt pork until crisp, then add the chopped onion, shallots and green pepper. When the onion is tender, add the beans and season to taste. Next, add the water used to cook the beans, bring to a boil, add the rice and cook for 20 minutes.

Riz Djon-djon Preparation.(Optional, can be substituted for riz et pois) Remove the stems from the mushrooms and soak them in a cup of hot water for 30 minutes. Soak the heads in a separate cup of hot water. Saute the rice and garlic in butter then add all other ingredients including the water used to soak the mushrooms
(discard the mushroom stems which are inedible).
Cook for 20 minutes.

Bananes Pesees Preparation
Soak the banana discs in salted water for one hour. Drain and dry usign a cloth (important for frying). Saute the plaitains slices in vegetable oil until tender. Flatten the bananas by pounding or pressing on them until they are half as thick. Refry until golden brown and crusty.

Riz et pois Colles is a staple of Haitian cuisine and is a side dish that typically accompanies griots.

Riz Djon-djon originates from the Northern part of Haiti. The Djon-djons used in this recipe are tiny black mushrooms with an inedible stem. These mushrooms give this dish an exquisite color, taste and aroma.