Pique criollo

Pique is a cherished hot sauce originating from Puerto Rico, frequently found in local eateries and roadside stalls. The foundational recipe involves steeping hot peppers in vinegar, supplemented with various seasonings and fresh herbs. One favored variant merges habanero peppers with pineapple and recao leaves. The longer the sauce ages, the spicier it becomes. Although a variety of hot peppers can be utilized to make pique, the most potent is the ají caballero.

A particular type of pique, referred to as Pique Criollo or Puerto Rican Tabasco, is fundamental in Puerto Rican cuisine. This tangy condiment typically incorporates a blend of Cubanelle peppers, caballero hot peppers, habanero peppers, pineapple, vinegar, oregano, peppercorns, garlic, and onions. To enhance its complexity, some recipes also feature ingredients like citrus fruits, cilantro, culantro, sugar, coriander seeds, cumin, rum, or even chocolate. While pineapple is the traditional choice, it can be substituted with other fruits such as papaya, avocado, sour orange, sweet plantain, tamarind, mango, passion fruit, or guava.