About this Dish
Black rice cooked with rare Haitian mushrooms, prized for celebrations.
History & Origin
Djon djon mushrooms grow almost exclusively in Haiti, lending the rice its distinctive black color and earthy flavor — reserved for weddings and holidays.
IngredientsServes 3
🍄Dried djon djon mushrooms, 1 cup (about 30g)
🍚Long grain white rice, 2 cups
💧Water, 3 cups (for soaking mushrooms)
🧄Garlic cloves, 3 minced
🧅Small onion, 1 finely chopped
🌿Fresh thyme sprigs, 4
🫛Frozen lima beans or small fava beans, 1 cup
🧂Salt, 1 teaspoon or to taste
🫒Neutral cooking oil or butter, 2 tablespoons
🌶️Whole Scotch bonnet pepper, 1 (kept whole, do not pierce)
Method
1
Soak the dried djon djon mushrooms in 3 cups of warm water for 30–45 minutes. The water will turn a deep, inky black — this is the magic. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth and reserve it; discard the mushroom stems as they can be tough.2
Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic for 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant.3
Pour the reserved black mushroom liquid into the pot and bring it to a gentle boil. Add the thyme sprigs, whole Scotch bonnet pepper, lima beans, and salt — never pierce the Scotch bonnet or the dish will become very spicy.4
Rinse the rice under cold water until it runs mostly clear, then stir it into the pot. Make sure the liquid covers the rice by about half an inch; add a little extra water if needed.5
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cover tightly with a lid. Cook undisturbed for 18–20 minutes until the rice is fully cooked and has absorbed all the beautiful black liquid.6
Remove the thyme sprigs and whole Scotch bonnet pepper before serving. Fluff the rice gently with a fork and taste for salt. Serve as a side dish alongside griot, legim, or fried plantains for a proper Haitian celebration meal.7
Fluff the rice gently with a fork and serve hot alongside griot (fried pork), diri ak pois, or plantains for a true Haitian celebration meal.User Reviews
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