Spicy Soup Joumou

Name: Spicy Soup Joumou
Ingredients: 1/2 medium onion; 1/2 green bell pepper; 1/2 red bell pepper; 1/2 yellow/orange bell pepper (optional); 1/2 celery stem; 3 garlic cloves; 1/4 or 1/2 habanero pepper; 3-4 Flat-leaf parsley (leaves and tender stems only); 2 Tsp. oil; 1/2 cup lime juice; 1/2 cup orange or lemon juice; 1/4 cup filtered water (optional); 1 tsp. salt; 2 Tbsp. coconut aminos (optional); 2 Tbsp. worcester sauce (optional); 2 Tbsp. olive oil; 1 squash (seeded); 3-5 sprigs of thyme or a tablespoon of dried thyme; Several fresh oregano leaves or a tablespoon of dried oregano; 3-5 garlic cloves, squashed; 1/2 green bell pepper; 1/2 red bell pepper; 1/2 yellow/orange bell pepper (optional); 1 small turnip; 1/2 medium onion; 1/2 celery stem; 2 carrots; Salt and pepper; 1 lb. stew lamb or grass-fed beef; 3-5 cups bone broth

Dec 28, 2021

Soup Joumou is a wonderfully spicy soup Haitians make on New Year’s Day. After Haiti gained independence from France in 1804, it became customary for Haitians to consume this spicy concoction of meat, vegetables, and pasta on January 1^st to celebrate their freedom. I won’t dwell too much on the rich history associated with this soup, except to say that this recipe deserves to take center stage on your dining room table on New Year’s Day. With that said, dedicate all your love and attention to the preparation of this meal, which I hope you will share with those closest to you.

If your taste buds have been asleep all year, this soup will wake them up in a heartbeat; in fact, it will make them jump with joy, and with good reason; it’s simply delicious. Although the list of ingredients may look daunting, it’s worth including as many items as you see fit; now is not the time to be frugal with your pennies or your penne pasta.

Soup Joumou is incredibly versatile, and ridiculously easy to customize to suit any palate. You can increase the nutrients, and vary the flavor with your choice of vegetables, vegetable powders, and seasonings. It’s also a good way to incorporate vegetables you might not consume on a regular basis, due to the common out-of-sight-out-of-mind mindset.

If you are not keen on the vegetables in the recommended ingredients list, swap them with ones that are favorites within your family. Whichever way you choose to execute this recipe, try not to skip on two of the most essential ingredients, the squash and habanero pepper, which add character to this dish. If you have a low tolerance to spicy food, use less than a quarter of the habanero, and adjust the pepper to suit your taste, with the Threefold Blend Spicy as you cook. If you go overboard on the pepper by mistake, add more coconut milk or some cream to dilute the heat.

I am not a huge fan of New Year resolutions, mostly because they rarely last more than a few weeks; however, next year, I will set myself a task, and try to eat all the colors of the rainbow every day. I know, a tall order, but not impossible, especially with recipes like this, which can be eaten any time, not just on New Year’s Day.

Bon appetite!