My husband and I moved away from my family in South Florida this past summer and I’m still adjusting to the changes of being away from family. One of the hardest things I’ve been learning to adjust to is not having my family near during the holidays and It didn’t hit me until New Years eve that I was actually going to spend my new year without my mother’s Haitian ( Independence day) Joumou soup.
Eating soup Joumou which is highlighted in this post, is one of my families oldest traditions and I was not going to spend the new year without it. So whats a new wife and lonely daughter to do? Call mommy and grandma, print the recipe on-line and go to work! I remember watching my mother prep this soup as a little girl thinking oh my goodness, this looks so complicated, but I was so surprise at how easy it was to prepare as long as I followed the instructions and made small revisions like what noodles, meat or vegetables I use, but only small revisions.
Here are a few links for recipes I’ve used:
First step was shopping, I went to a grocery store called Fiesta in my neighborhood and found all the different vegetables and ingredients needed for my soup.
Ingredients I use:
- – 1 lb beef neck or oxtail
- – 1/2 lemon
- – fine sea salt
- – crushed black pepper
- – water (enough to cover meat; more water may be added later to adjust consistency)
- – 2 lbs pumpkin, peeled & cubbed (alternately, use canned pumpkin)
- – 1 small onion, diced
- – 2 scallion stems, chopped
- – 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- – 1 leek, chopped
- – a small bunch fresh flat leaf parsley (about 3 sprigs), minced
- – a small bunch fresh thyme (about 3 sprigs), minced
- – a hearty bushel of spinach
- – 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- – 3 celery stalks, chopped
- – 1/2 head of green cabbage, chopped
- – 6 small potatoes, peeled & cubed
- – 3 large carrots, chopped
- – 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- – 1 tsp hot pepper
- – 1/4 lb vermicelli pasta or macaroni
- – domnbwey (soup dumplings)
Below are a few pictures of what we picked up.
Although I was looking at Pumpkin in this picture please be aware that Joumou is Squash not American pumpkin. I bought the pumpkin to help give the soup color which was my mother’s idea. I’m happy I used both but the squash was the main ingredient 🙂
Voila!!!!!!!!!!! Need more work next year but its not that bad.
My husband who is also Haitian was so happy I took the time out to actually keep our families traditional alive in our home. I am so very proud of my soup. I will definitely make it again next year and every year after that. It was actually easier than I expected. Hope you had a great New Years day with your family!!!
Happy New Year Again.
To read more about why we eat Soup Joumou on the first go here.
Click on link below to read and see my second attemp the following year.
Dear Ms. Wanda! Hope you had a great and energy fueled start into the New Year! Lots of love and blessings in your new environment! Well done on your soup too!
hugs, Nadine
http://www.theflamboyante.com
OMG, I relocated to Texas last year too…had the same experience. I didn’t realize how my culture is an integral l
part of my life until I actually moved away. I had to call my mother too, for a soup joumou recipe refresher….turneed
out great!!!
Lol, so you feel my pain. lol Where in Texas are you, I swear we do not exist in Texas 🙁
Ohhh wow…ur better than I..lol…How’s Texas..Is everything bigger for real..lol (silly me)..
Lol, yes everything is truly bigger in Texas, they do the most when it comes to everything lol
I made my rendition as well. Live in VA. Things to look for in the future also is frozen summer squash. I keep in my freezer when I am fiending my soup.
That’s great, although it’s time consuming the end product is def worth it!!!!
[…] I did a much better job. Below is a full collage of the finished product made by the recipe posted here on this site. I am so proud of being able to keep such a long-standing tradition alive in my […]
I moved my family from Florida to Dallas two years ago and i would have bet there are only a handful of us Haitians here. Thanks for the posts.
There are actually a lot of Haitians in Texas especially San Antonio but we are spread out.
He there, I’m in Texas too, been here for two years and no one to make soup this year! I will have to venture and make it. My children are to thrilled that I will try to make it… I want them to understand the history behind it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Agathe, i’m no longer in Texas but man i remember how hard that was. Its actually very simple and the kids can help. I’m sure you’re going to do a great job, Good luck!!!
Haitian Joumou Soup… I know that supermarket, you must be in Texas. I remember when I wanted to cook some Haitian dishes this supermarket was my first choice to get my supplies. Your website is pretty cool. Haitian Pride
Hi, yes that was in Houston. Thank you for stopping by the site.