In brief
- Soup joumou is a soup of calabaza squash, beef and vegetables, served as a main course.
- Origin: Haiti, Caribbean.
- Key ingredients: calabaza squash, stewing beef, cabbage, macaroni.
- Served on 1 January, the day Haiti's independence was proclaimed in 1804.
Origins and cultural history of soup joumou
Soup joumou is a Haitian soup made from calabaza squash, beef and root vegetables. Under French colonisation, enslaved people grew this squash but were not allowed to eat the soup made from it, which was reserved for slaveholders. On 1 January 1804, the day Haiti's independence was proclaimed, soup joumou became a symbol of freedom: it continues to be served that very day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as on 2 January, the day of the ancestors. In December 2021, UNESCO added the knowledge, know-how and practices linked to its consumption to the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, a first inscription for Haiti.
The recipe varies from family to family, but always combines squash reduced to a purée with beef broth, root vegetables, cabbage and short pasta.
What are the key ingredients of soup joumou
Soup joumou brings together a squash, meat and several vegetables, cooked together and then finished with short pasta.
- calabaza squash (or failing that, red kuri squash)
- stewing beef
- cabbage
- carrots and turnip
- macaroni or other short pasta
- whole scotch bonnet pepper, removed before serving
What to know about soup joumou
Soup joumou is a Haitian soup of giraumon squash puréed and cooked with stewing beef, cabbage, carrots, turnip and a whole scotch bonnet pepper that is removed before serving, then finished with macaroni. It is served as a main course on 1 January, the day Haiti's independence was proclaimed in 1804. It can be made the day before and reheated over low heat: the flavours blend even more after a night in the refrigerator.
Frequently asked questions about soup joumou
Can soup joumou be made the day before?
Yes. Soup joumou reheats well over low heat the next day, and the flavours blend even further after a night in the refrigerator.
Which squash can replace calabaza in soup joumou?
Red kuri squash, from the same family as calabaza, replaces it in an equal quantity if calabaza is not available in France. The taste will be slightly different, but the texture once cooked and puréed stays close.
Where to find the ingredients for soup joumou in France?
NKOSI sells the beef stock, the lime juice and the spices for this recipe, and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
