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Home » Recipes

How To Make Delish Haitian Epis!

Published: May 22, 2023 · Modified: May 30, 2023 by Grace · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how a Delish Haitian Epis Recipe!

My introduction to Haitian food came when I decided to make Haitian food to accompany a Haitian film called Kafou for a film and food night.

Little did I know that the Haitian film and food night would result in a love for Haitian Creole cuisine and a curiosity to know more about it!

Jump to:
  • What Is Haitian Epis?
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • Modifications
  • Suggestions For Using This Seasoning and Marinade
  • FAQ
  • Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
  • Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
  • How To Make Delish Haitian Epis

What Is Haitian Epis?

Epis is the perfect place to start when learning about Haitian recipes and food. This is an incredible seasoning base and marinade that is essential in the cuisine of Haiti.

This versatile seasoning and marinade is made of fresh herbs and vegetables, aromatics, oil, vinegar, and citrus juice.

My understanding is that in Haiti, Haitian cooks may use a wooden mortar and pestle to make their epis, and that each cook has their own special recipe.

Here in the United States, epis is usually made with a food processor or blender.

This amazing blend of herbs, vegetables and aromatics adds a huge burst of flavor to savory dishes. You may always want to keep some on hand to add to your dishes once you've tried this epic Haitian seasoning!

So now allow me to show you what you'll need to make this bold and spicy sauce!

🥘 Ingredients

Thyme sprigs, parsley and cilantro, celery stalks, green onions, green and red bell pepper, onion, head of garlic, lime, bowls filled with olive oil and vinegar, and a bowl with Scotch bonnet chilis and a Maggi Bouillon cube.

Ingredients needed for this Haitian epis recipe include all the good stuff as far as I am concerned!

You will need the following fresh vegetables, fresh herbs, and ingredients for this ultimate seasoning base:

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Vinegar (can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
  • Fresh parsley
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Green bell pepper
  • Red bell pepper
  • Celery stalks
  • Sprigs of thyme
  • Garlic cloves (from a head of garlic)
  • Chicken bouillon cubes or tablets - use Maggi chicken cubes or tablets for the most authentic taste and experience!
  • Onion
  • Green onions
  • Lime juice (freshly squeezed from one lime)
  • Scotch bonnet peppers or habanero peppers

This blend of herbs, vegetables, and other ingredients will combine to give you a bold Haitian seasoning base which you will absolutely love! You'll be able to use this essential seasoning for not only Haitian cuisine, but also to give added flavor to your soups and stews. It's an amazingly versatile seasoning!

So now let's get ready to make a big batch of Haitian epis seasoning!

🔪 Instructions

Now I'll show you the simple steps involved in making epis.

You will need either a large food processor or blender to make the epis. I used a blender for this recipe.

Prep The Ingredients

First, prep all the ingredients. It's best to dice the bell peppers, onion, and celery and chop the green onions into smaller pieces. This will make it easier to blend or process these ingredients.

You can leave the garlic cloves whole.

A white plate containing diced onion, green onion, celery, and slices of Scotch bonnet peppers. Another white plate containing garlic cloves and diced green and red bell peppers.

Order To Add Ingredients

It's best to add and blend/process a few ingredients at a time. Here's the order that I recommend you add the ingredients.

Add the bouillon cube, garlic and celery to a large food processor or blender. Blend/process for a few seconds until these have been broken up.

A blender containing garlic, diced celery, and a Maggi Chicken Bouillon Cube.

Next add the diced green and red bell peppers. Blend or process this for a few seconds until this combination has been broken up and mixed together. Scrape down the sides while blending/processing if needed.

A blender containing diced green bell peppers and red bell peppers.
Dice the bell peppers before adding them to your food processor or blender.
A blender containing blended bell peppers and garlic.
Blend for a few seconds to break up the ingredients and start to liquify them.

Now it's time to add the diced onion, green onions, habanero (or Scotch bonnets) and thyme leaves. Blend/process this for a few seconds and scrape down the sides if needed. The mixture should be mostly minced by this time.

A blender containing sliced green onions, habanero peppers, and diced onions.
Add the diced onion, green onions, habanero (or Scotch bonnets) and thyme leaves.
A blender containing blended vegetables and diced onions, chopped green onions, and scotch bonnet peppers.
It's best to add ingredients a few at a time rather than all at once. Look at the lovely layers!

Add the cilantro and parsley. Blend/process this for a few seconds until these herbs have been incorporated and scrape down the sides if needed. Once you have finished this step, the mixture should be minced and well combined.

A blender containing blended red and green bell pepper, topped with some diced onion, parsley and cilantro.
Add the parsley and the cilantro at the same time.
A blender containing blended bell peppers topped with parsley and cilantro.
When processing or blending, scrape down the sides as necessary.

The final step is to add the lime juice, vinegar, and olive oil. Blend/process this for a few seconds, and then your epis is ready to use!

A blender containing Haitian epis with a pool of olive oil on the top.
What a beautiful blend!

Modifications

Feel free to mix things up and make some modifications if you like. You don't actually need the exact ingredients listed above. For example, you can use 2 green bell peppers instead of one green bell pepper and one red bell pepper. If you use only green bell peppers, you'll get a green seasoning as seen below.

A glass bottle with green Haitian epis held by someone's hand.

You could also use only parsley instead of a combination of parsley and cilantro if you prefer. However it's not recommended to use only cilantro.

There are many variations on Haitian epis, as Haitian cooks tend to prepare their own versions. So have fun playing around with this recipe!

Suggestions For Using This Seasoning and Marinade

Two glass jars filled with Haitian epis with some parsley on the side.

Epis is an essential ingredient for amazing Haitian dishes such as Haitian Chicken and Haitian Spaghetti. However, you'll be delighted to know that you can use it in so many other ways!

I've enjoyed it as a dip for French fries and tortilla chips. My husband has also eaten his eggs with it and gave it the thumbs up. 👍

A French fry dipped into Haitian epis. There is a plastic container with epis under the French fry.
Use as a delish dip for fries!
A tortilla chip dipped in Haitian epis. There is a glass bowl with the epis underneath the chip.
Epis is great with chips as well!
Haitian Chicken in a cast iron skillet in a savory red sauce with lime wedges and slices of red bell pepper.
Epis is the perfect marinade for Haitian chicken!

Try stirring it into some Haitian Rice and Beans, and add a spoonful or two to your soups and stews. Also try using it as a marinade for meat or fish. You'll be glad you did!

FAQ

What is Haitian epis made of?

Haitian epis recipes vary from cook to cook. However, it typically consists of fresh herbs such as parsley and cilantro, garlic, green onions, bell pepper, thyme, oil, vinegar, and citrus juice.

What is Haitian epis?

Epis is a seasoning base and/or marinade that is essential in Haitian cooking. It can be compared to the Latin American sofrito.

How long does epis keep in the refrigerator?

Epis will safely keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks if it lasts that long!

Can you freeze epis?

Yes you can freeze epis! A great way to freeze it is by adding to an ice cube tray so you can use as needed.

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

  • Simple 10 Minute Tomato Sauce
  • Easy Zhoug Sauce Recipe
  • Belizean Hot Pepper Onion Sauce

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A jar containing Haitian epis with parsley on the side.

How To Make Delish Haitian Epis

Grace Stewart
I will show you How To Make Delicious Haitian Epis! Epis is an incredible marinade and seasoning base used in Haitian food and it is amazing and a MUST try!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course accompaniment, marinade
Cuisine Haitian
Servings 4 cups
Calories 144 kcal

Equipment

  • blender or food processor you will need a large food processor or blender

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon vinegar
  • ½ bunch parsley please select Italian parsley; can use both stems and leaves
  • ½ bunch cilantro can use both stems and leaves
  • 1 each green bell pepper diced with seeds and pith removed
  • 1 each red bell pepper diced with seeds and pith removed
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 5 sprigs thyme use leaves only
  • 1 whole garlic head peeled
  • 1 each bouillon cube use Maggi chicken bouillon cube
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 each green onions chopped
  • 1 lime juiced (use the lime juice only for this recipe)
  • 2 habanero peppers chopped (deseed for a less spicy epis) - can use Scotch bonnets

Instructions
 

  • Prep all the ingredients. It's best to dice the bell peppers, onion, and celery and chop the green onions into smaller pieces. This will make it easier to blend or process these ingredients. You can leave the garlic cloves whole.
    A white plate containing diced onion, green onion, celery, and slices of Scotch bonnet peppers. Another white plate containing garlic cloves and diced green and red bell peppers.
  • Add the bouillon cube, garlic and celery to a large food processor or blender. Blend/process for a few seconds until these have been broken up.
    A blender containing garlic, diced celery, and a Maggi Chicken Bouillon Cube.
  • Next add the diced green and red bell peppers. Blend or process this for a few seconds until this combination has been broken up and mixed together. Scrape down the sides while blending/processing if needed.
    A blender containing blended bell peppers and garlic.
  • Now it's time to add the diced onion, green onions, habanero (or Scotch bonnets) and thyme leaves. Blend/process this for a few seconds and scrape down the sides if needed. The mixture should be mostly minced by this time.
    A blender containing blended vegetables and diced onions, chopped green onions, and scotch bonnet peppers.
  • Add the cilantro and parsley. Blend/process this for a few seconds until these herbs have been incorporated and scrape down the sides if needed. Once you have finished this step, the mixture should be minced and well combined.
    A blender containing blended bell peppers topped with parsley and cilantro.
  • The final step is to add the lime juice, vinegar, and olive oil. Blend/process this for a few seconds, and then your epis is ready to use!
    A blender containing Haitian epis with a pool of olive oil on the top.

Notes

Store the epis in airtight glass jars such as Mason jars.  This will keep well for a couple of weeks in your refrigerator.
This recipe makes approximately 4 cups of epis, give or take. 
Great used like a salsa for chips, a dip for fries, and of course as a marinade for delicious Haitian Chicken!

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 0.01mgSodium: 69mgPotassium: 137mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 811IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
Keyword epis, haitian seasoning, seasoning base
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Hi I’m Grace Stewart! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions!  Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go.  My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too.  

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Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

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