Name: Pikliz Recipe (Spicy Haitian Pickled Slaw)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1.5 cups shredded or thinly sliced cabbage; 1 medium red bell pepper (thinly sliced); 1 medium carrot (grated (about 1/2 cup)); 1 medium onion (thinly sliced (about 3/4 cup)); 2-4 Scotch Bonnet peppers (sliced (use habanero as a sub)); 3-4 cloves garlic (minced); 1.5 cups white vinegar (use apple cider vinegar for more sweet-tart); Juice from 1/2 large lime; 1 teaspoon salt; Black pepper to taste (optional)

This pikliz recipe is made with shredded cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, and fiery Scotch Bonnets in a simple brine, the perfect crunchy-spicy condiment!

Pikliz Recipe

If you are a lover of spicy food, Haitian Pikliz is a recipe you need in your recipe collection.

It's perfect for spicing up sandwiches and grilled meats, and can even be served as a simple side dish.

It's also very easy to make, and you can spice it up as much as you'd like.

What is Pikliz?

Pikliz is a Haitian condiment of pickled cabbage with carrot, bell peppers and fiery Scotch bonnet peppers. It is often served with traditional Haitian dishes to balance out fatty meats, or as a complimentary spicy crunch factor.

It's a must for Haitian cuisine, with a wonderful balance of crispy-crunchy vegetables, tartness from the vinegar, and a vigorous spicy kick from the hot peppers.

It's great with Haitian food, but you can enjoy this on many, many dishes. I think this is a recipe you're going to love.

Let's talk about how to make pikliz, shall we?

Haitian Pikliz Ingredients

PIKLIZ VEGETABLES
Cabbage. Shredded or thinly sliced.
Bell Pepper. I'm using red bell pepper for color.
Carrot.
Scotch Bonnets. Scotch bonnet peppers are quite fiery, with a heat equal to the habanero pepper, about 300,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Onion. Shallot is good, too.
Garlic.
FOR THE PIKLIZ BRINE
White Vinegar. I use distilled white vinegar, or use apple cider vinegar for more sweet-tart.
Lime Juice.
Salt.

How to Make Pikliz - the Recipe Method

Shred or Chop the Vegetables. Mix the pikliz vegetables - cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, sliced Scotch bonnet peppers, onion, and garlic - in a large bowl.

Shredded vegetables in a bowl for making Pikliz

Jar Them Up. Transfer the vegetables to a large Ball jar.

Stuffing the vegetables into the jar to make Pikliz

Make the Pikliz Brine. Whisk together the brine ingredients - vinegar, lime juice, salt, and optional black pepper - then pour it into the jar. Be sure to completely cover the vegetables with the brine.

Pouring the brine into the jar of vegetables to make Pikliz

Let the Flavors Develop. Secure the lid and refrigerate for 3 days or longer to let the flavors mingle.

Pikliz in a bowl, ready to serve, with a jar of Pikliz behind it

Boom! Done! Your pikliz is ready to serve. Easy enough to make, isn't it? This is fantastic on grilled meats, or as a spicy slaw for your sandwiches, sausages, and burgers.

Recipe Tips & Notes

Scotch Bonnets. If you're unable to find these peppers, use habanero peppers, which are very similar in heat and flavor. Consider other hot peppers as well, or use milder peppers for a less fiery version.
Other Vegetables. Add other vegetables to your preference for flavor variations, like other hot peppers, cucumber, asparagus and others.
Seasonings and Herbs. Make this pikliz your own by adding your favorite herbs and seasonings, like fresh basil or thyme, cumin seeds, whole peppercorns, cloves, lemon, or others. Pikliz is very customizable.

Serving Pikliz

Serve Pikliz with fried foods to balance out the greasiness. It is great piled on to grilled meats and sandwiches for a nice spicy crunch factor. Try it on your next shrimp po' boy sandwich!

Try it with your favorite rice and beans recipe, like Jamaican rice and peas. I love it on smoked pulled pork, and on fish tacos.

Storage

Store your pikliz in the refrigerator, properly sealed. Because it is pickled, it will last a month or longer. Vinegar is a preservative as well as a flavoring agent.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy the pikliz!. Let me know if you make it, and if you enjoyed it. Might be your new favorite condiment!

Tools Used For This Recipe

Amazon Affiliate links, my friends!

Ball Jars - Makes pickling easy, with large enough jars to accommodate a good sized batch of vegetables or peppers.

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Pikliz Recipe (Spicy Haitian Pickled Slaw)

This pikliz recipe is made with shredded cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, and fiery Scotch Bonnets in a simple brine, the perfect crunchy-spicy condiment!

Save Recipe

Course: Condiment, Salad

Cuisine: Haitian

Keyword: bell peppers, cabbage, pickled, scotch bonnet

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 5

Calories: 27kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings:

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5 from 8 votes

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Ingredients

PIKLIZ VEGETABLES

1.5 cups shredded or thinly sliced cabbage
1 medium red bell pepper thinly sliced
1 medium carrot grated (about 1/2 cup)
1 medium onion thinly sliced (about 3/4 cup)
2-4 Scotch Bonnet peppers sliced (use habanero as a sub)
3-4 cloves garlic minced

FOR THE PICKLING BRINE

1.5 cups white vinegar use apple cider vinegar for more sweet-tart
Juice from 1/2 large lime
1 teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste optional

Instructions

Mix the pikliz vegetables - cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, Scotch bonnet peppers, onion, and garlic - in a large bowl.
Transfer the vegetables to a large Ball jar.
Whisk together the brine ingredients - vinegar, lime juice, salt, and optional black pepper - then pour it into the jar. Be sure to completely cover the vegetables with the brine.
Secure the lid and refrigerate for 3 days or longer to let the flavors mingle.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 27kcal Carbohydrates: 4g Protein: 1g Fat: 1g Saturated Fat: 1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Sodium: 301mg Potassium: 112mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 2g Vitamin A: 1777IU Vitamin C: 29mg Calcium: 17mg Iron: 1mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Pikliz (Spicy Haitian Pickled Slaw)