I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the Haitian spaghetti recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparing Haitian spaghetti. Later, we will look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What is Haitian Spaghetti?
Haitian Spaghetti, also known as Spaghetti Haitienne, is a famous Haitian cook. It is a delicious and spicy variation of spaghetti that reflects the fusion of Haitian and Italian food styles.
Haitian spaghetti is a famous main course meal. People generally enjoy it with salad, fried plantains and slices of avocados. Haitian people love this dish because of its comforting taste and delightful flavours.
Haitian Spaghetti Recipe Tips
- Choose the right type of ground meat: Haitian spaghetti contains a combination of ground turkey and ground beef. So, make sure to choose beef with rich flavour. Alternatively, you can also use ground chicken.
- Mix the vegetables well: Haitian Spaghetti is prepared with sofrito, which is a mixture of onions, celery, bell peppers and Haitian epis (a combination of thyme, parsley, scotch bonnet peppers, and garlic).
- Don’t overcook the spaghetti: The cooked spaghetti shouldn’t be too soft. Overcooking it may lead to softness and won’t stay in shape.
- Don’t skip the tomato paste: The involvement of tomato paste makes the Haitian spaghetti sauce taste well. Make sure to cook it for a few minutes after adding it to the pan to avoid the taste of raw tomatoes.
- Reserve some pasta water: If the Haitian sauce is too thick, make sure to add starchy pasta water to make it thinner. It also helps in sticking the sauce to the noodles better.
Variations
- Spaghetti with Haitian Creole Sauce: This variation of spaghetti noodles with delicious tomato sauce contains Haitian spices like garlic, parsley, thyme and onions. You can also include bell pepper for a spicy twist.
- Spaghetti with legume: Legume is a Haitian dish that is prepared with veggies like cabbage, carrots, eggplant, pumpkin and spinach. It makes the spaghetti nutritious and hearty.
- Spaghetti with chicken or beef: You can also include stewed beef or chicken in the spaghetti for a high protein taste.
- Spaghetti with fried plantains: For a sweet and savoury option, you can consider fried plantains as a side dish. They are cut into slices and then fried until golden brown, providing a crunchy twist to the meal.
- Spaghetti with cheese: You can consider cheese like Haitian Boukannen or any other similar variety for a rich and flavorful taste.
What to serve
- Salad: The involvement of fresh salad with tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and tangy vinaigrette provides a refreshing twist to the spaghetti.
- Fried or baked plantain chips: You can also serve the crispy plantain chips as a side dish that works well with Haitian spaghetti.
- Haitian fried chicken: You can consider Haitian fried chicken with Haitian spaghetti. The presence of crunchy chicken adds an extra taste and texture to the meal.
- Rice and beans: Rice and beans being a part of Haitian cuisine, provide you the extra energy and make the meal more filling.
- Fried dumplings: Fried dumplings are prepared with salt, water and flour. They are soft from the inside but crispy from the outside and are perfect for dipping into spaghetti sauce.
Storing and freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the spaghetti cool at room temperature.
- Transfer the spaghetti to an air-tight container or resealable plastic bag.
- Storing the spaghetti in the refrigerator can last up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
- You can portion the spaghetti into individual servings and use them accordingly.
- Label the container or the bags with the date to keep track of the freshness.
- You can freeze the Haitian spaghetti in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months without losing its quality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Haitian spaghetti recipe provides a delightful journey into Haiti’s lively food scene. The mixture of Haitian and Italian flavours makes the dish tasty and reflects Haiti’s culture.
So, whether you are an experienced chef or a newbie, make sure to try Haitian spaghetti. Enjoy the flavour, embrace the culture and enjoy every bite of the tasty meal.
Read More:- Qdoba Chicken Recipe
Traditional Haitian Spaghetti Recipe
Haitian Spaghetti also known by the name Spaghetti Haitienne, is a famous Haitian cooking.
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti noodles
- 1 lb ground beef or chicken
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper
- Scotch bonnet pepper optional, for extra heat
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Water for boiling pasta
Instructions
- Make sure to cook the spaghetti as per the instructionsmentioned on the packet and avoid it too soft. Then, drain and keep aside.
- In a large saucepan or skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
- Place the chopped onion, minced garlic and bell pepper inthe pan. Cook until soft and smells nice, it may take around 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken or ground beef in the pan. Cook it whilestirring with a spoon until it is thoroughly cooked and turned brown.
- Mix the tomato sauce, dried thyme, dried parsley, tomatopaste, paprika, salt and pepper. If you are using scotch bonnet pepper, you caneither chop it finely or add it as a whole for flavor.
- Reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for around15-20 minutes, stir occasionally to let the flavors meld together.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as per your preference.
- Once the sauce is prepared, place the cooked spaghetti in thepan. Make sure that the noodles are evenly coated in the sauce.
- It’s time to serve the spaghetti. You can also garnish itwith fresh parsley.
