By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 8
1248 cal · 210 min
Spicy Creole Pickled Pig's Trotters
Recipe GLPR29f14266945305
Traditional Creole pickled pig's trotters with a spicy kick. Tender, gelatinous trotters are cured and pickled with aromatic spices for a bold, savory delicacy. Perfect as an appetizer or main course, these trotters deliver authentic Louisiana flavor with every bite.
Save recipes you love
Create a free Grocery List Plus account to save recipes, rate them, and add every ingredient to your grocery list in one tap.
Ingredients
10 whole Pig's trotters, scrubbed well
1⅝ cups Kosher salt, divided
½ cup Cane sugar
2 tbsp Curing salt
1 tbsp Black peppercorns
1 tbsp Red pepper flakes
4 whole Bay leaves
6 cloves Garlic cloves, crushed
4 sprigs Fresh thyme sprigs
3 quarts Water
Directions
Rinse the scrubbed pig's trotters under cold running water to remove any remaining debris. Place them in a large pot and cover with water.
Add 1 1/2 cups kosher salt to the pot with the trotters and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, until the trotters are very tender and the meat easily separates from the bone.
Remove the trotters from the cooking liquid using a slotted spoon and allow them to cool slightly. Once cooled, cut or leave whole as desired, and transfer to a clean glass jar or ceramic container.
In a medium saucepan, combine 3 quarts of fresh water, cane sugar, curing salt, the remaining 2 tablespoons of kosher salt, black peppercorns, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, crushed garlic cloves, and fresh thyme sprigs.
Bring the pickling brine to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar and salts are completely dissolved. Allow the brine to cool to room temperature.
Pour the cooled brine over the cooked trotters in the jar, ensuring they are completely submerged. Cover the jar and refrigerate for at least 7 days before serving to allow flavors to develop.
Serve the pickled trotters cold or at room temperature. They will keep refrigerated for up to 3 months.
Comments
Pig's trotters are a specialty item that will require a trip to a Latin or Eastern European butcher—neither Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart, ALDI, nor Kroger reliably stocks them—adding real cost and planning to a weeknight. The 210-minute stated time omits the overnight brining step and the slow boiling required to make the trotters tender enough to eat; budget 24 hours total, split across two days. The ingredient list itself is cheap and available once you have the trotters, and the yield is generous at eight servings, making this a strong choice for a planned weekend project or for a cook already familiar with offal and nose-to-tail cooking. This is not a fussy dish—it's straightforward pickling with classic Creole aromatics—and the trotters keep refrigerated for weeks, so leftovers are an asset, not a problem.
Sign in or create a free account to add your review.
