Haitian Pikliz over Quinoa with Chicken Croquettes

Spicy Haitian Pikliz Slaw takes Quinoa with Chicken Croquettes over the top!This post is written in collaboration with First Fresh Foods. All opinions are my own.

Haitian Pikliz

My husband came home from work raving about this “spicy coleslaw” he had tried from one of his co-workers, so, of course, I had to get the recipe and find out more about it! I’m a big believer in giving credit where credit is due, so I have to thank Princess from my husband’s job. I tried out several different recipes and the original one she shared was the best!

Haitian Pikliz is a vinegar based coleslaw. I was all about it when I saw the ingredients were all naturally gluten free! While you can make it and eat it right away, you can also put it in a jar, and it will ferment. Ferment doesn’t mean it will start tasting weird, it just means that it will develop some amazing flavors. The cabbage, carrots, onions, and scotch bonnet peppers meld into a spicy coleslaw that is amazing. You will want to eat it on everything…plus, you won’t feel guilty about it because it’s good for you!

There are some great reasons to eat fermented foods:

1. Improve Digestion
2. Increased Vitamin Content
3. Helps your body absorb nutrients.
4. The food keeps longer
5. They taste delicious!

Pikliz with Croquettes

First Fresh recently sent me some of their delicious gluten free chicken croquettes. I could rave about these things for days. Every time I eat them I double check the ingredients to make sure they are really gluten free, but since I know First Fresh Foods does not use any gluten containing ingredients in any of their products I know they are safe. They just taste so dang good. That crispy outside and cheesy inside…I could eat these every single day.

When we received them I cooked one (or maybe two!) just to have a taste and decide what I should make with them. I had the habanero chicken croquettes and made a Cilantro Pesto that was amazing. Of course, my hubby likes to add spice to everything and having just had Haitian Pikliz at work, he convinced me it would be perfect. As usual, he was right!

A Bit Healthier

Between Celiac Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Migraines I am really trying to eat healthier. Cutting down on the refined sugars and eating more protein are on my list of goals for this year.

Combining a fermented food, like the Haitian Pikliz, with protein-packed quinoa and all white meat First Fresh Chicken Croquettes is a great dinner time choice. All the flavor, but still better for you. Plus, it’s super easy to make!

Recipe Notes

Just a few quick notes to help get you ready to make Haitian Pikliz

• If you can’t find Scotch Bonnet peppers, you can use Habenero. Scotch Bonnets are a tiny bit sweeter, so you may want to add a teaspoon of sugar to the mix, but you don’t have to.
• If you have access to “coleslaw mix” use it. Cutting up cabbage and shredding carrots takes a bit of time. Might as well take the easy route!

I hope you enjoy this authentic Haitian Piklaz. Be sure to grab some First Fresh Chicken Croquettes to go with it! The combo is delicious!

What’s your healthy eating goal this year?

Print Recipe

3.50 from 4 votes

Haitian Pikliz over Quinoa with Chicken Croquettes

Ingredients

Pikliz

• Cabbage shredded -- 1/2 head
• Carrots peeled and chopped into small pieces or grated -- 2
• Onion thinly sliced -- 1
• Scotch bonnet peppers -- 2 to 6
• Garlic cloves -- 4 to 6
• Salt -- 2 teaspoons
• Peppercorns -- 8
• White or cane vinegar -- 3 cups

Quinoa and Croquettes

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 4 First Fresh Chicken Croquettes cooked as directed

Instructions

• Combine all Pikliz ingredients and mix well.
• Plate quinoa and topped with sliced chicken croquette.
• Top with Haitian Pikliz.
• Store remaining Pikliz in a jar.