Matt Bray 
Simply put, vadouvan is a French curry powder. Curry powder — the version most of us are familiar with — is most likely a British invention. Both vadouvan and curry powder started as attempts to make Western versions of Indian spices that are easier for …
Sweet peppers are classified as “sweet” to differentiate them from hot peppers. Generally speaking, any pepper that isn’t hot could be considered sweet. In other words, the term “sweet pepper” encompasses a wide range of varieties that come in many different shapes and sizes. Let’s …
Chipotle chilies are another name for jalapeños. Specifically: they are ripe red jalapeños that have been dried and smoked.The peppers have become one of the more famous Mexican spices, but do they share similar nutritional profiles. Is chipotle pepper nutrition similar to the nutritional value …
The best Mexican hot sauces are all common and relatively affordable. If you are in Mexico, the offerings will change from region to region and from restaurant to restaurant. The good news is that all of them are available online, and most will be in …
Bell peppers are fruits even though most people think of them as vegetables. They are among the most familiar items in the produce aisle, but – just like the fact that they are fruits – there are quite a few things about these valuable, flavorful …
The “head of the shop”… Spice blends are an important part of Middle Eastern cookery. Blends like dukkah and za’atar are widely used and help to create complex and distinctive flavor profiles; however, no blend is more complex and distinctive than ras el hanout. The …
Jalapeño peppers are without doubt the most common hot pepper in the United States. Their popularity is due to their (relatively) low heat level and the fact that you can find them in just about any grocery store. This is one great entry-level hot pepper. …
Salsa takes on many different forms as you might expect from a dish that has been around for thousands of years in one form or another. The Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans all had their versions of it. The list below covers six of the most …
Baharat is an Arab spice blend. The word baharat means “spices” in Arabic. It is the plural form of bahar, which is the word for spice. Like many traditional spice blends, baharat ingredients differ from place to place. For example, baharat in Tunisia is different …
The love of spicy food is a controversial subject for people who take flavor seriously. Few things can divide foodies more than spicy condiments like hot sauce and dishes like Nashville hot chicken. In recent years, the spicy foods have been growing in popularity with …