Pique sauce facts for kids
Pique is a Puerto Rican hot sauce commonly found at restaurants and roadside stands. Homemade versions of this type of sauce are made by steeping hot peppers in vinegar, with seasonings and fresh herbs. One popular variant is habanero peppers with pineapple and fresh recao leaves. The longer it sits, the hotter it gets.
Different types of Island ajíes picantes (hot peppers) will have varying amounts of heat, the hottest of all is the ají caballero.
Pique criollo
Pique criollo, also known as Pique boricua de botella or Puerto Rican Tabasco is a hot condiment used in Puerto Rican cooking. It is made of Cubanelle peppers, caballero hot peppers and/or habanero peppers, pineapple (skin, core, juice and/or small pieces), vinegar, oregano, peppercorns, garlic and/or onions. Additional ingredients can be citrus fruit, cilantro, culantro, sugar, coriander seeds, cumin, rum or chocolate. Although pineapple is most traditional it can be replaced with papaya, avocado, sour orange, sweet plantain, tamarind, mango, passion fruit or guava.
