Soup · Main Course · Caribbean · Dinner ·

Haitian Joumou Soup with Spicy Pumpkin and Beef

Name: Haitian Joumou Soup with Spicy Pumpkin and Beef
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 lime, juiced; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 medium onion, diced; 1 small leek, chopped; 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, whole, pierced with a fork; 4 cups pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into cubes; 2 medium carrots, sliced; 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed; 1 cabbage, quartered; 2 liters beef stock or water; 1 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp ground cloves; 1/4 cup parsley, chopped; 2 green onions, sliced; 1 tbsp butter; Salt and pepper, to taste

This iconic Haitian soup commemorates Haiti's independence with a rich blend of vegetables, beef, and spices centered around vibrant, spicy pumpkin flavors.

4.8(0 reviews)

·By Troy·October 22, 2025

Haitian Joumou Soup with Spicy Pumpkin and Beef

Prep

1 h

Cook

3 h

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Beef Marinade

For the Soup Base

For Finishing

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 400 kcal
Protein: 31.4 g
Carbs: 31.6 g
Fat: 17.7 g
Fiber: 5.8 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2397 kcal
Protein: 188.4 g
Carbs: 189.6 g
Fat: 106.2 g
Fiber: 34.6 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1.5 lbs beef stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes	1230	160	0	64	0
3 cloves garlic minced	13	0.6	3	0	0.2
1 lime juiced	11	0.2	4	0	0
1 tsp salt	0	0	0	0	0
1 tsp black pepper	6	0.2	1.4	0.1	0.6
2 sprigs fresh thyme	2	0.1	0.6	0	0.3
2 tbsp olive oil	239	0	0	27	0
1 medium onion diced	44	1.2	10	0	1.9
1 small leek chopped	38	1	9	0.2	1.2
1 Scotch bonnet pepper whole, pierced with a fork	18	0.5	4	0.2	0.5
4 cups pumpkin peeled, seeded, and cut into cubes	120	3	30	0.5	3.2
2 medium carrots sliced	50	1	12	0.3	3.4
3 medium potatoes peeled and cubed	338	8.4	77	0.6	7.5
1 cabbage quartered	145	7	33	0.8	14
2 liters beef stock or water	20	4	0	0.5	0
1 tsp paprika	6	0.3	1.3	0.3	0.9
1/2 tsp ground cloves	3	0	0.7	0.1	0.4
1/4 cup parsley chopped	4	0.4	0.8	0.1	0.5
2 green onions sliced	8	0.5	1.8	0.1	0.4
1 tbsp butter	102	0.1	0	11.5	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Beef

1
Combine ingredients
In a large bowl, combine beef cubes with garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and thyme.
2
Mix and refrigerate
Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results.
3
Bring to room temperature
Remove beef from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature.

Preparing the Vegetables

1
Prepare vegetables
Dice and prepare all vegetables as listed in the ingredients.
2
Keep Scotch bonnet intact
Keep the Scotch bonnet whole, only pierced to infuse flavor without overwhelming spice.
Tip: Keep an eye on the Scotch bonnet pepper in the soup to prevent it from bursting.
3
Set aside vegetables
Set aside separately for the soup-making process.

How to Make Haitian Joumou Soup with Spicy Pumpkin and Beef

Total time: 4 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Sautéing Beef
Remove beef from marinade and pat dry. Sauté in heated oil until browned.
2
Building Soup Base
Stir in onions and leek; cook until soft. Add all remaining vegetables and spices.
3
Simmering
Pour in beef stock or water. Add salt, pepper, and whole Scotch bonnet. Simmer until all ingredients are tender.

Chef's Tips

Frequently asked questions

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Preparation

Marinating the Beef

Combine ingredients

Mix and refrigerate

Bring to room temperature

Preparing the Vegetables

Prepare vegetables

Keep Scotch bonnet intact

Set aside vegetables

How to Make Haitian Joumou Soup with Spicy Pumpkin and Beef

Sautéing Beef

Building Soup Base

Simmering

Chef's Tips

Frequently asked questions

Explore more from TastyFood