Matt Bray – Page 70 – PepperScale

Peach Habanero Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

What are peach habaneros? Like many chili peppers, habaneros come in a surprising amount of colors. Orange may be the most common, but there’s chocolate, red, and even more uncommon colors like peach. The peach habanero is a beauty of a pepper – with a …

Salt-Free Cajun Seasoning

by Matt Bray

No salt with a smoky twist…

This is a spin-off of our homemade Cajun seasoning recipe for those who need a salt-free recipe option. Sure, it’s simple to simply pull salt from the original recipe, but salt surely is a flavor enhancer. We like to add something a little different to the mix to bring something special to a no-salt Cajun seasoning alternative. Here it’s a touch of chipotle pepper powder to go along with the cayenne and paprika.

This addition adds a little more spice, along with an undertone of smokiness to the Cajun seasoning. It’s these flavor additions that make this spice blend its own unique take on Cajun seasoning. Don’t want the smokiness? That’s ok, simply remove the chipotle powder from the recipe and you have a blend that’s plenty tasty ready for use! Sprinkle it over steak as a spice rub or use it with soups and dressings to rev up the flavor.

Curried Potato Soup

by Matt Bray

Curry warmth with extra oomph…

Curried potato soup is a simple enough recipe. Potato, leek, and garlic meet cream, stock, and spices. But sometimes simplicity belies the real flavor impact of a meal. It’s exotic, yet comforting. Plus, for us spicy food fans, it’s a tick beyond “warm” in the heat department with the extra oomph provided by cayenne pepper.

This is a soup highly dependent on its spices, so adjust the curry powder and cayenne to your liking. Serve this with a crusty loaf of bread and you have a very satisfying light meal.

Orange Chipotle Sauce

by Matt Bray

A tangy twist to BBQ…

The tangy, citrusy bite of orange is one of our favorite flavors to pair with pork on BBQ day. Now throwing chipotle pepper (one of our chili pepper favorites) into the mix, too, makes one delicious flavor pairing for the grill. It’s all good things in this orange chipotle sauce: tangy, smoky, earthy, and bold.

Don’t limit yourself to pork here (though yes, it’s oh so good with pork ribs). It also pairs well with grilled chicken, or you can use it as a dipper for chicken fingers for something different than the norm.

Ancho Cream Sauce

by Matt Bray

Perfect for Mexican night…

Want something different than the typical salsa or tomato-based chili sauce for Mexican night? Something that’s mild enough that the whole family can enjoy, yet still has plenty of flavor? Meet the ancho cream sauce. It’s super-mild (ancho peppers are typically half the heat of even the mildest jalapeños), yet anchos are packed with flavor. They’re earthy, slightly smoky, and even a little sweet – a perfect foil to rich cream flavor.

Use this sauce with tortilla-based Mexican meals – enchiladas, burritos, or quesadillas are all great options.

Kickin’ Cajun Dipping Sauce

by Matt Bray

Simple Southern charm…

Want a simple dipping sauce that still charms the pants off your guests? This kickin’ Cajun dipping sauce is all that. It takes only five minutes to pull together, but it’s chock full of Southern charm and a decent kick to boot.

There are multiple heat sources here. Cajun seasoning typically contains a bit of chili pepper powder (typically cayenne pepper) and the Louisiana hot sauce adds some additional pop (and a subtle tang). We like to top it off with additional cayenne for extra boom, too. This sauce is excellent for all sorts of things: pita, veggies, and grilled chicken fingers to name a few.

Spicy Chana Masala

by Matt Bray

Chickpeas with attitude…

Cayenne pepper brings the sizzle to this chana masala recipe. This chickpea-based Indian favorite is delicious served simply with naan bread or try it atop rice or couscous to make more of a meal of it. It’s a perfect side dish for Indian meals, especially if you’re looking for something that’s not breaded and fried.

There’s an exotic mix of spices here beyond fiery cayenne and chili powder, including garam masala, amchoor powder (also known as mango powder), ginger, and turmeric. It’s a bold turn for chickpeas, so feel free to adjust the spice proportions of each to your liking.

Spanish Paprika 101: Much More Than Smoked

by Matt Bray

Like Hungary’s passion for paprika, Spain also has a love affair with this shock-red spice. It’s deep-rooted in history and more, much more, than the smoked paprika that may first come to mind. Let’s take a deeper look at Spanish paprika – where it came from and what makes its many types tick – so you can use it confidently in the kitchen.

Jalapeño Ketchup

by Matt Bray

Fresh jalapeños for a garden grassy bite…

Have a few extra jalapeño peppers around or just looking for a spicy alternative to everyday ketchup? Fuel your favorite condiment with a fresh, grassy bite. Jalapeño ketchup tastes great on grilled burgers and hot dogs (if you are one of “those” ketchup-on-hot-dog people. PS: We are too!) And make sure to leave a little to side as this makes one heck of a fry dipper.

If you prefer something smokier, check out our chipotle ketchup recipe. Or if you want something a little more exotic, give this delicious curry ketchup recipe a whirl.

Hungarian Paprika 101: The Spice Of A Nation

by Matt Bray

Few countries are as entwined with a spice as Hungary is with paprika. It’s officially the national spice of Hungary and there’s a real cultural pride for this fiery red powder. There are two paprika festivals and even two paprika museums. Plus, paprika is crucial to authentic Hungarian cuisine, from goulash to paprikash.

So how did we get here? How did a country far away from typical hot pepper haunts become known for this delicious chili pepper based spice? What does the region’s earth and climate bring to the flavor? And what differentiates the many types of Hungarian paprika (yes, there are many)? Let’s break it all down.