Experience the vibrant flavors of Haiti with this hearty Legume Militon or vegetable stew. This dish is a comforting blend of chayote, cabbage, carrots, and watercress, enriched with Haitian seasonings and a savory tomato base. Perfectly paired with rice or plantains, it's a flavorful journey to the heart of Haitian cuisine.
Ingredients
🥬 1/2 head cabbage sliced
🍏 2 chayotes peeled, seeded, quartered
🥕 2-3 carrots peeled, diced
🌿 1 bundle watercress roughly chopped
🧅 1 large onion diced
🧄 2 cloves garlic minced
🌿 2 scallions chopped
💧 1 cup + 1 cup water
🫒 1/4 cup olive oil
🍅 3 tablespoons tomato paste
🧂 1 teaspoon salt
🌶️ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
🧂 1 chicken flavor bouillon tablet
🌿 2 Sazon Goya con Culantro y Achiote packets
🌿 1 Sazon Goya sin Achiote packet
🌶️ 1 tablespoon Scotch Bonnet hot pepper sauce
🧈 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
1- Prepare Vegetables:
- Slice the cabbage into wedges.
- Peel, seed, and quarter the chayotes.
- Peel and dice the carrots.
- Roughly chop the watercress.
- Dice the onion, chop the scallions, and mince the garlic.
2- Boil Vegetables:
- In a large aluminum pot, add 1 cup of water and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.
- Add the diced carrots, chayote pieces, sliced cabbage, and chopped watercress.
- Cover and simmer for 30 minutes until vegetables are tender.
3- Mash Vegetables:
- Transfer the cooked vegetables to a large glass bowl.
- Using a potato masher, mash the chayote, watercress, and cabbage. Leave carrots mostly intact for texture.
4- Prepare Stew Base:
- In the same pot over medium heat, add olive oil.
- Sauté the chopped scallions and minced garlic briefly.
- Add tomato paste and diced onions, stirring until onions soften and tomato paste is well incorporated.
5- Add Seasonings:
- Mix in salt, black pepper, chicken flavor bouillon tablet, Sazon Goya packets, and Scotch Bonnet hot pepper sauce.
- Stir thoroughly to combine.
6- Combine and Simmer:
- Add 1 cup of water to the pot.
- Return mashed vegetables to the pot, stirring well to combine.
- Add butter, stirring until melted and incorporated.
- Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally for even cooking.
7- Serve:
- Serve the finished dish hot. Traditionally enjoyed with rice or starchy sides like plantains.
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 65-70 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Equipment: Glass cutting board, ceramic knife, black handle peeler, cooking pot (aluminum), stovetop, potato masher, spatula, measuring cups
Cooking Tips
- Mashing some vegetables while keeping others intact enhances the dish's texture.
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