In short

Pikliz (also spelled piklis, picklese or piklize) is a spicy Haitian condiment made of cabbage, carrots and hot peppers pickled in vinegar. It is served with griot, fried plantains and fried food, but also with meats, rice, sandwiches and salads. Goûts de Luxe Inc. makes Pick-Lize Deluxe pikliz in Québec, spicy or extra spicy, sold in Montréal, Laval, Terrebonne and other cities.

Haitian condiment

What is pikliz?

Pikliz is the essential condiment of Haitian cuisine: a mix of cabbage, carrots and hot peppers, finely cut and pickled in vinegar. Crunchy, tangy and spicy, it accompanies almost every meal in Haiti and wherever the Haitian diaspora lives, from Port-au-Prince to Montréal.

Its name is spelled several ways: pikliz in Haitian Creole, but also piklis, picklese or piklize. It is reminiscent of the English word “pickles”: vegetables preserved in vinegar, with a good dose of hot pepper.

  • Origin: Haiti, where it goes with almost every meal.
  • Texture: crunchy and fresh.
  • Taste: very spicy, vinegary and tangy.
  • Role: it livens up dishes, a little like kimchi in Korean cooking.
Plate of Pick-Lize Deluxe Haitian pikliz served by a gloved hand
Three jars of Pick-Lize Deluxe – 630 ml, 500 ml and 375 ml

Ingredients

Pikliz ingredients

The base of pikliz is simple:

  • Finely sliced white cabbage

  • Julienned carrots

  • Hot peppers (piment bouc, a cousin of the Scotch bonnet)

  • White vinegar

  • Salt and seasonings

The cabbage can be white or green, and Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers can replace piment bouc. Some families add a little lime or sour orange juice (zoranj si) to the vinegar, or some allspice.

Depending on the family, onion or shallot, bell pepper, garlic, cloves or peppercorns are also added. Every household has its own recipe!

At Goûts de Luxe, the Pick-Lize Deluxe recipe was created by cook Sanicia Mérius: cabbage, carrot, hot peppers, white vinegar, oil and an exclusive seasoning blend. See the full list of ingredients and allergens.

Heat

Is pikliz very spicy?

Yes, pikliz is known for its heat: the hot pepper flavours the vinegar and the vegetables. The heat level depends on the amount of peppers. If you are new to it, start with a small spoonful on the side of your plate.

Pick-Lize Deluxe comes in two heat levels: spicy (3 peppers on the jar) and extra spicy (5 peppers on the jar), in 375 ml, 500 ml and 630 ml jars.

Spicy and extra spicy Pick-Lize Deluxe
Griot, fried plantains and pikliz – Haitian catering in Montréal

Serving ideas

What do you eat pikliz with?

In Haiti, pikliz is served above all with fried food: griot (fried pork), tassot, fried plantains and accras. Its acidity balances the richness and wakes up every bite.

It also goes very well with chicken, grilled meats, fish, rice, pasta, eggs, burgers, hot dogs, subs, tacos and salads.

It also brightens rice and bean dishes, such as Haitian rice and beans (diri kole ak pwa). And its spicy vinegar can replace the vinegar in a dressing or a marinade.

Storage

How should pikliz be stored?

Always keep your pikliz in the refrigerator with the jar tightly closed, and serve it with a clean utensil to preserve its crunch and flavour.

Is pikliz fermented?

Generally, no: pikliz is pickled in vinegar, whereas sauerkraut and kimchi are fermented. The vegetables gradually absorb the vinegar and the hot pepper, which gives pikliz its distinctive taste.

Comparison

Pikliz or coleslaw?

Pikliz is sometimes compared to a spicy coleslaw or to Central American curtido. The difference: pikliz contains no mayonnaise, it is pickled in vinegar and it is much spicier.

What about vegetarian pikliz?

Traditional pikliz contains only vegetables, vinegar and spices. Pick-Lize Deluxe, however, contains a chicken soup base, so it is not vegetarian.

Frequently asked questions

Your questions, our answers

Pikliz is a very spicy, tangy Haitian condiment, somewhere between a crunchy cabbage slaw and a hot sauce: finely cut cabbage, carrots and hot peppers pickled in vinegar. It is also spelled piklis, picklese or piklize.

White or green cabbage, carrots, hot peppers (piment bouc, Scotch bonnet or habanero), white vinegar and salt. Depending on the recipe, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cloves, pepper, allspice or a little lime or sour orange juice are added.

In small amounts, on the side of the plate: with griot, tassot, fried plantains and accras, but also chicken, grilled meats, fish, rice, beans, burgers, hot dogs and salads. Its spicy vinegar also livens up dressings and marinades.

In Haitian Creole, it is spelled pikliz. You will also see piklis, picklese or piklize: they all refer to the same condiment of cabbage, carrots and hot peppers pickled in vinegar.

Pikliz comes from Haiti, where it accompanies most meals, especially griot and fried food. It can be found wherever the Haitian diaspora lives, notably in Montréal.

Traditional pikliz contains only vegetables, vinegar and spices. Pick-Lize Deluxe contains a chicken soup base, so it is not vegetarian.

Pick-Lize Deluxe is sold in grocery stores in Montréal, Montréal-Nord, Laval, Terrebonne and other cities. You can also order it at 514 653-2197, with delivery in Montréal and the surrounding area.

Ready-to-serve Haitian pikliz

No time to make your own pikliz? Pick-Lize Deluxe is made in Québec and sold in grocery stores in Montréal, Laval, Terrebonne and other cities, or delivered in Montréal and the surrounding area.