Matt Bray

Founder of PepperScale and Cindermint LLC. Sucker for a good scotch bonnet. Spicy food super-fan. Current fiery fascination: Datil hot sauces.
Sambar Powder

Homemade Sambar Powder

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An exotic Indian seasoning…

There are a few lightly fiery seasonings that are musts for authentic Indian cuisine, and sambar powder is among one of the most important. It’s used to make sambar, a delicious lentil-based soup that’s often a precursor (or a side) to the main Indian meal. Sambar powder, too, can be a substitute to rasam powder for making rasam – a thin soup that’s typically served atop rice.

In both cases, it’s the popular Indian kashmiri chili that provides a light simmer of heat. These are mild peppers (1,000 to 2,000 Scoville heat units), but enough are called for in the recipe that you’ll feel the spiciness. 

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chili powder nutrition

Chili Powder Nutrition: How Healthy Is It?

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Chili powder is a spice blend that consists of powdered chili peppers along with other spices. The spices commonly used are those that typically show up in authentic Latin American cooking. They include powdered chili peppers, garlic, and cumin. The pepper in chili powder is typically …

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Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce Ingredients

Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce Ingredients: What Makes It Tick?

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Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce is made in Ville Platte in Louisiana’s Evangeline Parish, which makes it about as authentic as you can get when it comes to Cajun cooking. It was invented by Anthony Walker, who ran the family’s deli. According to the Slap Ya Mama website, he wanted a seasoning blend that had the authentic Cajun flavor without the high salt content found in nationally-distributed brands. He couldn’t find one so he set to work making his own version. So is the hot sauce the same ingredients as the seasoning? Let’s break down this hot sauce ingredient by ingredient.

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tomato rasam

Tomato Rasam

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A “spice-potent” Indian tomato soup…

If you love Indian spices, tomato rasam is a must dish for an authentic night of Southern Indian food. It’s simply served over rice as a filling meal on its own or as a side dish to a larger meal. This is spice-filled comfort food at its best. Tangy, earthy, aromatic, and – yes of course – spicy!

The recipe calls for kashmiri chilies as the heat source. You can increase the heat by using rasam powder – either as a replacement to the cumin and coriander (see the notes) or as an additive at the end of the steps. Rasam powder (see our recipe here or buy it here) is spicy in its own right, so it adds additional kick. 

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Mexican Bean Salad

Fiery Mexican Bean Salad

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A bean salad with attitude…

As a barbecue side, Mexican bean salad is top of the line. Not only is it tasty, it also brings colorful life to the table. It’s an explosion of yellows, reds, and greens that looks fresh and fun.

And then there’s the other “f” in this recipe: fire. Jalapeño pepper provides a fresh bright pop while cayenne pepper powder layers a heat undertone through the entire spicy side dish. This most definitely is a bean salad with attitude – which works real well with bolder meat rubs and sweet BBQ sauces.

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Thai BBQ Sauce

Thai BBQ Sauce

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Yum on ribs, but perfect with shrimp and salmon…

Like hoisin BBQ sauce, this spicy Thai BBQ sauce is a turn away from the typical norm. It’s sweet, tangy, and earthy – like many sauces – but behind it all is an unusual foreign flair fueled by oyster sauce, fish sauce, and Thai chili paste. Thai BBQ sauce is tasty on ribs, steak, and chicken, but, frankly, it finds its real culinary home with grilled salmon and shrimp. The seafood pairs well with the unique flavors behind the recipe.

There’s just a little simmer of heat in the current recipe. The Thai chili sauce has a mellow burn and the cayenne pepper provides a little extra punch. If you want it spicier, increase that cayenne incrementally. It’s best to adjust any ingredients after the sauce has melded together for an hour or two. Ingredients like fish sauce and oyster sauce are strong flavors that will mellow with a little rest prior to use (and the sauce may even taste hotter). If you have the time, give the sauce a period to gel prior to tweaking the heat. 

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Spicy Refried Beans

Spicy Refried Beans

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Homemade refried beans with kick!

Sure, it’s really easy to pick up a can of refried beans from the supermarket, but making your own is both more rewarding and a heck of a lot healthier. Plus, you can spice things up just the way you want it. This spicy refried beans recipe steers relies on the oils from serrano peppers (or jalapeños if you can’t easily source serranos) – cooking them halved lengthwise with the beans. You can then remove the chilies for a smoother refried bean mix, or chop up the chilies and incorporate then into the beans.

Spicy refried beans are a delicious side for Mexican meals, or simply serve them with tortilla chips for a delicious spicy snack.

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