Matt Bray, Author at PepperScale

Ancho Cream Sauce

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

A hotter take on the classic Indian chickpea curry. Chickpeas simmer in a cooked-down tomato and onion masala, with a fresh minced jalapeño stirred in at the end so it stays green and sharp.

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.

Jalapeño Lime Vinaigrette

by Matt Bray

A versatile spicy condiment…

The first time you make this jalapeño lime vinaigrette, it’ll probably be for a salad. But the minute you taste it, you’ll see there’s a lot more potential than greens for this yummy spicy dressing. It’s delicious as a marinade for fish (whether grilled or as a topper for fish tacos) and it’s a real flavor booster for grilled chicken (we especially like it as a alternative spicy dipping sauce for chicken satay).

If you want a step up in heat, you can try this recipe with serrano peppers instead of jalapeños. They have a similar bright, grassy flavor, but with a noticeable heat jump (but still within a medium-heat, eatable range).

Sriracha Ranch Dressing

by Matt Bray

Creamy smooth with Rooster sauce kick…

Spicy salad dressings turn your everyday greens into salads with serious attitude. Sriracha ranch dressing is a perfect mix of “smooth and fresh” meets tangy heat. Plus the garlic in the Sriracha sauce (with a pinch more of garlic powder) gives a boost of “bam!” to this dressing. Use it also as a fiery dipping sauce for fresh veggies and chicken wings.

Our version of Sriracha ranch dressing is a semi-short cut. It’s not as simple as taking a bottle of ranch and dashing in Sriracha, but not as complex as making ranch dressing from absolute scratch. We use some creamy ranch dip mix to provide the ranch flavor. Sriracha and cayenne pepper powder provide the spiciness. The cayenne is totally optional and only there as we spicy food fans always like a little extra heat.

Sweet And Spicy French Dressing

by Matt Bray

From greens to taco salad? Yes…

French dressing is sort of a salad dressing secret weapon. It’s of course a delicious greens topper for those that love sweet and tangy dressings. But French dressing (Catalina dressing too) also make a yummy sauce base for taco salads. Yes, it’s true – see a real delicious taco salad recipe right here featuring French dressing.

This spicy version of the salad dressing standard uses both mild paprika and fiery cayenne pepper. Want just a mild simmer? Remove the cayenne pepper completely. Or, of course, feel free to add more if you prefer things even spicier.

Mexican Chocolate Milk

by Matt Bray

Spicy and refreshing with a touch of smoke…

A refreshing glass of chilled Mexican chocolate milk is a terrific way to take the edge off the day. While you can use authentic Mexican chocolate (like Ibarra) to make a version of this delicious drink, this recipe leans instead into what you likely already have in your refrigerator and spice rack. Chocolate syrup and cinnamon imitate the flavor of what you’d find with authentic Mexican chocolate, and then we add some smoky spiciness through fiery chipotle powder.

If you prefer something hot instead, take a look at our Aztec hot chocolate recipe (also featuring chipotle powder) or our spicy hot chocolate recipe using cayenne powder.