DIRE AK DJON DJON

Recipe for Diri ak Djon Djon (Haitian Mushroom Rice).

Ingredients for 4 people

• Rice: 500 g of long rice (basmati or jasmine type)

• Djon Djon: 2 cups of djon djon mushrooms (or one djon djon bouillon cube)

• Water: 5 cups of water

• Pigeon/Congo peas: 200 g

• Shrimp: 100 g, peeled

• Onion: 1 large, finely chopped

• Shallots: 2, finely chopped

• Garlic: 2 cloves, crushed

• Pepper: 1, roughly chopped

• Thyme: 1 sprig

• Salted bacon: ¼ cup, diced (optional)

• Oil: 4 tablespoons

• Butter: 1 tablespoon

• Cloves: 3

• Salt and pepper: to taste

• Whole hot pepper: 1 (optional)

• Cayenne pepper: a pinch

Necessary utensils

• Saucepan or pot

• Fine strainer

• Mixer or blender

• Wooden spoon

• Serving dish

Preparation and cooking time

• Preparation time: 15 minutes

• Soaking time for djon djon: 30 minutes

• Cooking time: about 20 minutes

Preparation steps

1. Preparation of djon djon:

   • Soak the djon djon mushrooms in 5 cups of hot water for about 30 minutes.

   • After soaking, blend the mushrooms with the water and strain the mixture through a fine sieve to collect the colored water. Discard the residue.

2. Cooking the ingredients:

   • In a saucepan, heat 4 tablespoons of oil over medium heat.

   • Add the salted bacon (if using) and fry until golden brown.

   • Add the onion, garlic, shallots, and bell pepper. Sauté for about 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Adding liquids and spices:

   • Add the shrimp and Congo peas to the pan. Mix well.

   • Pour the filtered water from the djon djon into the saucepan. Add the cloves, thyme, salt, pepper, and hot pepper.

4. Cooking rice:

   • When the mixture begins to boil, add the previously washed rice. Stir for about 2 minutes.

   • Reduce heat and cook uncovered until all the water is absorbed.

5. Finishing the dish:

   • Once the water is absorbed, stir in the butter and a little more oil if needed.

   • Cover the pan and cook over low heat for about 15 more minutes.

Preparation tips

• For an even richer taste, you can add a little coconut milk during the final cooking.

• Make sure the djon djon mushrooms are well strained to avoid any bitterness in the dish.

• Serve with banana pezes or pikliz for a complete traditional Haitian meal.

Nutritional values (for 1 serving, or 1/4 of the recipe)

Note: Values are approximate and may vary depending on preparation method and exact ingredients used. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This iconic Haitian dish is not only tasty, but also colorful thanks to the djon djon mushrooms that give it a beautiful black hue. 🧡