Haitian Oatmeal

Jazz up your breakfast porridge with our Caribbean oatmeal recipe inspired by traditional Haitian flavours. It combines the freshness of coconut milk and papaya with the earthy aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise.

Haitian Oatmeal with Papaya

Info

Nutrition per serving
NutrientAmountRDA
Net Carbs33.4 g12.2%
of which Sugars12.3 g13.7%
Fibers6.4 g22.7%
Fats10.4 g16%
of which Saturates4.5 g22.3%
of which Omega 30.1 g10.1%
Proteins6.8 g14.9%
Calcium133 mg13.3%
Vitamin A185 mcg26.4%
Vitamin C86 mg114.2%
Iron2.9 mg19.8%
Potassium485 mg13.8%
Sodium26 mg1.1%
Cholesterol0 mg0%
Kcal255 12.7%
Macro split
  • net carbs 59%
  • sugars 22%
  • fats 18%
  • saturates 8%
  • proteins 12%
  • fibers 11%
*RDA based on a 2000 kcal diet;
**Nutritional data sources: USDA, food labels.
KCAL
255 per serving
TIME
10m
HEALTH

If you're looking for inspiration for your next breakfast porridge, we have a brand new recipe for you: Haitian oatmeal. It's rich and creamy, with delicious tropical flavours and earthy spices. Let us show you how to do it!

To design this recipe, we started from traditional Haitian oatmeal recipes and added a few tasty ingredients used in Caribbean cuisine. This way, the porridge will be super yummy and also have the right balance of whole grains, fruit, and proteins to start the day right.

We cooked jumbo rolled oats with coconut milk drink and a mix of star anise, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Once thick and creamy, we served the oatmeal with diced papaya, toasted cashews, and a drizzle of maple syrup. The result is a delicious bowl with a unique contrast of fresh and earthy, hot and cold, soft and crunchy ingredients.

Classic Haitian oat porridge, known as labouyl avwan in Haitian Creole, usually includes whole milk, condensed milk, sugar, spices, and sometimes butter. While we kept the traditional spice blend, we decided to swap the other ingredients with healthy, plant-based alternatives.

We replaced cow's milk with coconut milk drink (not the tinned one), which is lower in fats, gives creaminess, and adds a tropical flavour that suits the recipe perfectly.

Then, we omitted the butter and swapped refined white sugar with maple syrup, which has 40% fewer sugars.

Papaya and cashew nuts balance the porridge with vitamins, minerals, proteins and healthy fats. Also, they're staple ingredients in Haitian cuisine and easy to find.

Now that you how tasty and healthy this porridge is, it's time to get your cutest breakfast bowl ready and get started!

And after this, try our other tropical oatmeal ideas like this papaya smoothie bowl, Jamaican cornmeal porridge, Jamaican peanut porridge, or Haitian plantain porridge.

Ingredients

Adjustments
Serves
Measuring System
Oatmeal
Coconut Milk Drink380 mL
Jumbo Rolled Oats60 g
Ground Cinnamon1/2 tsp
Ground Nutmeg1 pinch
Star Anise Pods2
Toppings
Ripe Papaya1
Toasted Cashews20 g
Maple Syrup to taste

Step 1

Add coconut milk drink, rolled oats, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise pods to a pot.

oats with coconut milk star anise and cinnamon

Step 2

Mix well and bring the milk to a boil.

Then, simmer the oatmeal for 5 minutes while stirring to prevent the oats from getting stuck to the bottom of the pan and burn.

haitian coconut oatmeal with star anise

Step 3

Once the porridge is thick and creamy, remove the star anise and divide the oatmeal among serving bowls.

Top it with diced papaya, toasted cashews, and drizzled maple syrup.

haitian oatmeal with papaya

Tips

  • You can use oat milk, soy milk, or almond milk instead of coconut milk drink.

  • If you can't find papaya, you can use other Caribbean fruits like mango, passion fruit, or bananas.