Haitian Pumpkin Soup

Haitian Pumpkin SoupHaitian Pumpkin Soup

Sample this unique and flavorful traditional Haitian pumpkin soup. Made with a combination of slow-cooked vegetables, pumpkin puree, and fragrant herbs and spices, this comforting soup is sure to become an instant favorite in your household. 

Traditionally in Haiti, Soup Joumou is the first food to be eaten on New Year's Day.

January 1st is Haiti's Independence Day and eating this soup is said to bring you good luck into the new year. It has been many years since I have lived in Haiti, but I continue to make the soup for my family. 

This soup helps us remember and stand in solidarity with the Haitian people.

Soup Joumou (Haitian Pumpkin Soup)

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of Pumpkin puree (or can of pumpkin soup)
  • 4 cups of water
  • 1 lb cabbage,chopped
  • 6 medium potatoes,chopped
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 large carrots,chopped
  • 3 celery stalks,chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic,chopped
  • 4 ounces spaghetti
  • 1 hot red pepper
  • 4-6 tablespoons cracked black pepper

Recipe:

1. In big pot mix pumpkin puree with water and bring to a boil. (note if you like a thinner soup - add more water) 

2. Add the rest of ingredients and cook until veggies and spaghetti are done - approximately 1 hour. Remove hot pepper and enjoy. 

This Haitian Pumpkin Soup (Soup Joumou) recipe serves 15 people nicely. Serve it over a bed of rice or alongside your favorite bread for a hearty meal everyone will love. Enjoy its warm and savory flavor as you feel yourself being transported to the Caribbean islands!

Soup recipes for any reason and any season

Comments for Haitian Pumpkin Soup (Soupe Joumou)

May 30, 2011
wonderful by: rachael 

Made this soup the other day and it was great!

Apr 30, 2011
Delicious! by: Jeda 

I really enjoy this soup and so does my family. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'm going to plant a few extra pumpkins this year! 

Apr 29, 2011
healthy by: Megan 

Loved this because it is healthy.

Apr 29, 2011
good stuff by: ben 

Loved the flavor, a very different tasting soup.

Apr 27, 2011
Yummy and delicious soup by: Gramps 

This is my favorite soup because I grow it all in my garden. I can eat it all year round.

Apr 25, 2011
Tasty soup by: Anonymous 

Thanks for the recipe. I have been craving soup lately. This soup was really tasty and really easy to throw together! Really hit the spot. Thanks

Mar 26, 2011
Loved it! by: Jackie 

Love this recipe. This soup is so good and really fills you up. My husband typically claims that soups are just appetizers but this one he'll happily have as a meal! Thanks for sharing. 

Mar 22, 2011
Love the simplicity! by: Jenna 

I love how simple this recipe is! I've started making all my own soup from scratch because I have been trying to avoid using cans when cooking. I love to find recipes that don't involve using a can opener :) My vegetarian friends love when I make this soup too! 

Mar 16, 2011
Suggestion... by: Duke Eyman 

You might substitute low sodium canned chicken broth for the water. It adds a level of richness. Carmelizing the vegetables first also enhances the flavor.

Mar 15, 2011
Looks yummie by: Louise 

I love soups and this looks delicious. I can't wait to try it. Its nice that you still make this even though you don't live there anymore. 

Mar 07, 2011
Yummy by: Anonymous 

Such a great thing to make in the winter months! 

Mar 05, 2011
What a novel idea by: Anonymous 

Love this because it incorporates all of my garden vegetables into one soup. Love it

Mar 03, 2011
LOVED IT by: JoAnne 

Really enjoyed this one... Tasted as good as it looked. THANKS

Feb 25, 2011
wow by: Linda 

This looks great! Can't wait to try it!

Feb 20, 2011
Thanks for the recipe by: Alan 

I have been looking online all winter for new soup recipes to try. Soups are prefect for me to make on the weekend and eat all week long. This recipe looks like a really good soup for me. I usually have all those ingredients on hand. Thanks for the idea. 

Feb 19, 2011
Delic........ by: Sandra 

I was looking for a pumpkin soup and this was very tasty! I imagine this may be good with squash too!

Feb 17, 2011
Some yummy pumpkin soup by: Sam 

Tried this recipe and this soup is really good. I love making my own pumpkin puree and using it in recipes. Pumpkins are so cheap. Great recipe to stretch the food budget. Thanks. 

Feb 17, 2011
Surprised by: Len 

When I heard pumpkin soup, I was not thrilled. I made it anyway and it was delicious!!! Now I see pumpkins in a different light!

Feb 10, 2011
Very good pumpkin soup by: Grandma 

Some good soup, especially for these cold days It sure hits the spot! 

Feb 07, 2011
Delicious Soup! 
by: Jon 

My wife made this soup and it's delicious! Very filling with plenty of leftovers to bring for lunch! Perfect to warm you up during winter months. 

Feb 07, 2011
Delicious winter soup 
by: Miriam 

I made this soup for supper last night using butternut squash from our garden and added some goat meat and broth--which I know the Haitian people love! While we were eating, my husband kept saying, "this is really good." We are looking forward to eating the leftovers this week!

Feb 05, 2011
Great idea 
by: Anonymous 

Great idea, I'll make the soup this weekend.

Feb 05, 2011
A Great Soup Recipe by: abby 

This is wonderful soup, especially in the winter when it's cold, but is great in the summer too.

Feb 05, 2011
Great Stuff! by: Jean Paul 

Made this soup last night. It was great. I had enough to freeze for lunches. It was fantastic!

Feb 04, 2011
Great Soup by: Hunter 

A flavorful change from the normal; looking forward to my next bowl.

Feb 04, 2011
Now I am Craving Your Pumpkin Soup by: Big Jack 

Nice photo of the finished recipe. After seeing your pictures, I'm now carving a bowl of pumpkin soup. What camera did you use to snap the shot? I look forward to trying your recipe soon. 

Feb 04, 2011
Some Very Good Soup by: louise 

I really like this soup recipe. We make a point of having this every year just to remind us of all the good things we are blessed with.

Feb 03, 2011
Thanks for the idea! by: Jen 

I am always looking for dinner ideas that incorporate squashes during harvest season. I love squash and I try to use a lot of them because it is such an affordable way to feed my family. I am definitely going to try this! 

Feb 03, 2011
Wonderful by: Rob 

I love it when my wife makes this soup. I make sure to plant extra pumpkins every year so we can have it a couple of times!