Diri Kole ak Pwa Wouj
Diri Kole ak Pwa Wouj, Haiti's beloved national dish, is a flavorful and comforting combination of rice and red beans cooked together. It's a staple in Haitian households, often served as a main course or a side dish, embodying the heart of Haitian home cooking.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried red kidney beans
- 6 cups Water(divided)
- 2 cups Long-grain white rice
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 3 Garlic cloves(minced)
- 1 Chicken bouillon cube
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(or to taste)
- 1 tsp Fresh thyme(chopped)
- 1 tsp Fresh parsley(chopped)
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper(whole, for flavor)
- 0.5 cup Coconut milk (optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Rinse the dried red kidney beans under cold water. Soak them in plenty of water for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse again.
- 2
Place the soaked beans in a large pot with 4 cups of fresh water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the beans are tender. Add more water if needed.
- 3
Once the beans are tender, reserve about 3 cups of the bean cooking liquid. Drain the remaining beans.
- 4
In a separate large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until softened and fragrant (about 3-5 minutes).
- 5
Add the drained cooked beans to the pot with the onions and garlic. Stir in the chicken bouillon cube, salt, black pepper, and chopped thyme and parsley. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring to meld the flavors.
- 6
Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir to coat the grains with the bean and seasoning mixture. Pour in the reserved bean liquid (about 3 cups). If needed, add more water or chicken broth to reach a total of 3.5 cups of liquid for 2 cups of rice.
- 7
Add the whole scotch bonnet pepper to the pot. If using coconut milk, stir it in now. Bring the mixture to a boil.
💡 Tip: Do not cut the scotch bonnet pepper; it's for flavor, not intense heat. - 8
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.
- 9
Remove the scotch bonnet pepper before serving. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot.
💡 Tip: Diri Kole is delicious served with fried chicken, fish, or a simple salad.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a creamier texture, mash a portion of the cooked beans before adding them to the rice.
- ✓If you're short on time, you can use canned red kidney beans, but rinse them thoroughly.
- ✓Adjust the amount of salt and pepper to your personal preference.
🔄 Variations
- Use black beans or pinto beans instead of red kidney beans.
- Add a tablespoon of tomato paste for a richer color and slightly sweeter flavor.
- A small piece of salted pork or smoked turkey can be added for extra depth of flavor.