Easy and delicious, this Haitian Spaghetti Recipe is sure to become a family favorite. In 20 minutes, you’ll have one delicious meal made from simple ingredients. For a more delicious experience, pair it with your favorite type of meat and side dishes.
What is Haitian spaghetti? When it comes to Haitian food, this dish is one of the most famous ones in Haitian households simply because of its delicious taste and unique ingredients. What makes it special? This recipe, also called espageti was created by Chef Jean Marie Guérin, who is from Haiti. He wanted to create something new and exciting for his restaurant customers. The result is a tasty pasta dish with a spicy kick. It is now a popular dish in Haitian restaurants and street vendors.
It’s no secret that pasta dishes are great comfort food. They’re also versatile enough to go well with almost anything. In this blog, I show you how to make a simple version of this classic Haitian dish using only a few lists of ingredients.
This is a popular breakfast food in Caribbean cuisine. Similar to how bacon and eggs are popular food in the West. It is one of the tastiest Haitian Pasta Recipes. The dish is typically accompanied by eggs, hot dog sausages, Vienna sausages grilled, herring fish, chicken sausage, turkey sausage, beef, Italian sausage, or sometimes shrimp. Crumbled smoked herring can also be added to the sauce for extra flavor!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The recipe can be prepared in under 20 minutes
- This is a vegetarian version that can be tweaked to include different kinds of meats
- Most of the ingredients are likely to be found in your pantry already
- There is a unique taste to it, where tomatoes are the highlight
- In addition, it keeps well and is easy to store.
Ingredients List and Substitution
Spaghetti – use high-quality pasta to make this dish. Also, spaghettini or any strand-like pasta can be used instead.
Tomatoes – fresh tomatoes are the star of this dish so make sure you use ripe and sweet ones.
White Onions – it is entirely up to you if you want to use white or red onions. Red onions have a sweeter taste when fried so I chose that instead.
Fresh Thyme – these have a better fragrance than dried thyme however, it isn’t necessary to use them. Dried thyme will work just fine too.
Tomato Paste – adding tbsp tomato paste is a required ingredient in this dish because it forms the base of the sauce. It adds some tangy tomato flavors to this dish and it’s a sauce thickener. Use ketchup as a substitute.
Garlic Powder – fresh or minced ones are fine too.
Habanero Pepper or Hot Red Pepper – this is a very hot pepper so use it with caution. If you don’t have any, use cayenne pepper instead.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – to saute the onions, thyme, and tomatoes.
Chicken Bouillion Powder – these are stock cubes that add a delicious flavor profile to dishes. A must in Haitian cuisine.
Green Onions – also known as scallions. Slice some and use them as garnish.
Salt – to taste
Optional Ingredients
- Hot Dogs
- Green Pepper
- Tomato Ketchup – add a little ketchup to achieve a sweet taste for this dish.
- Fresh Vegetables – green bell pepper,
- Smoked Herrings
How to make quick and easy Haitian spaghetti
- Bring a large pot of water to cook pasta. The bouillon cubes should be added when the water is hot and stirred until melted. Follow the package directions on the package for cooking the spaghetti till al dente.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Sauté the white onions and thyme for 2-3 minutes, or until the edges are browned.
- Add the tomatoes and cook for an additional minute. Next, add the tomato paste. Stir continuously for two minutes.
- Mix in garlic powder, scotch bonnet pepper, and bouillon powder, and season the tomato sauce with salt. Add 1/4 ounce of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce once it has been drained and cooked. Stir everything together well.
- Before serving, check for salt. As a garnish, sprinkle sliced green onions over the top.
- Pair with your favorite side dish like salads full of leafy greens.
What kind of peppers is used in this Haitian dish?
This dish may be spicy or not depending on your individual preference but I used habanero pepper to spice it up. Alternatively, you can use cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, green bell peppers, or some smoked paprika. To balance out the heat, you shouldn’t forget to add ketchup.
Which pasta is best for Haitian Spaghetti?
Typically, regular spaghetti is used in this recipe. Make sure you use strand-like pasta like spaghettini or angel hair to make the recipe as traditional as possible.
Extra Tips
- Make sure the pasta is not overcooked, as that will affect the outcome.
- Don’t forget to reserve pasta water for the sauce. In the event of forgetfulness, add some water or stock.
- Fry the tomato sauce on medium high heat.
How To Store
This Haitian Spaghetti Dish keeps well when stored properly. Store the leftovers, in an air-tight container after it has completely cooled down. Consume within a week.
More Simple Pasta Dishes To Try
Garlic Basil Pasta With Grape Tomatoes
Haitian Spaghetti (Espageti) Recipe
Easy and delicious, this Haitian Spaghetti Recipe is sure to become a family favorite. In 20 minutes, you’ll have one delicious meal made from simple ingredients. For a more delicious experience, pair it with your favorite type of meat and side dishes.
Ingredients
- 7 oz Spaghetti
- 3 Medium Tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 Medium White Onion, sliced
- 4 Twigs Fresh Thyme (or 1/2 tbsp. of Dried Thyme)
- 3 tbsp. Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 medium-sized Habanero Pepper
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 Chicken Bouillion Powder
- 2 Green Onions (Scallions), sliced
- 1 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to cook pasta. The bouillon cubes should be added when the water is hot and stirred until melted. Follow the package directions on the package for cooking the spaghetti till al dente.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Sauté the white onions and thyme for 2-3 minutes, or until the edges are browned.
- Add the tomatoes and cook for an additional minute. Next, add the tomato paste. Stir continuously for two minutes.
- Mix in garlic powder, scotch bonnet pepper, and bouillon powder, and season the tomato sauce with salt. Add 1/4 ounce of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce once it has been drained and cooked. Stir everything together well.
- Before serving, check for salt. As a garnish, sprinkle sliced green onions over the top.
- Pair with your favorite side dish like salads full of leafy greens.
Notes
Make sure the pasta is not overcooked, as that will affect the outcome.
Don’t forget to reserve pasta water for the sauce. In the event of forgetfulness, add some water or stock.
Fry the tomato sauce on medium high heat.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 376Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1450mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 8gSugar: 12gProtein: 10g
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kitchen On The Avenue makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
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