Matt Bray – Page 86 – PepperScale

Jwala Pepper: The Intense Flame

Potent heat, appley flavor…

Scoville heat units (SHU): 20,000 – 30,000
Jalapeño reference point: 3 to 12 times hotter
Origin: India
Seeds: Jwala pepper on Amazon

It’s impossible to enjoy authentic Indian cuisine, especially authentic curries, without partaking in the jwala pepper. Also known as the Indian finger hot pepper, the jwala is the most popular hot pepper in India, and as such it’s used in all sorts of spicy foods, both as a fresh chili as well as dried. This chili provides a very eatable medium heat to meals.

Aji Omnicolor Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are Aji Omincolor peppers? There are many beautiful ornamental peppers, many of which provide terrific color to landscaping or gardens. The aji omnicolor is one, but this chili brings something extra-special to the table, literally. There’s a complex, fruity, and sweet flavor to these …

Aji Charapita Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are aji charapita peppers? Tiny, yet oh so very fiery, the aji charapita has wild roots. It hails from the jungles of northern Peru, and has mainly grown wild – only recently being cultivated for commercial use. Its size is small, like an American …

Charleston Hot Pepper Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are Charleston Hot peppers? For many, the cayenne pepper is already a big heat, but its cousin the Charleston Hot takes the popular cayenne to a whole different level. Bred by the United States Department of Agriculture, this cayenne variety doubles the spiciness of …

Habanero Ketchup

by Matt Bray

Your burger will never be the same…

Ready to graduate from jalapeño slices? Go with habanero heat! Habanero ketchup is at the upper echelon of spicy condiments, especially if you leave the seeds in during the cooking process (recommended only for extreme eaters). Even without the seeds, this is not a ketchup for the timid. It’s blazingly hot, but with that sweet tomato tang that pairs with burger oh so well. But don’t stop there, habanero ketchup is delicious wherever standard ketchup is in order: as a dip for fries, as a topper for meatloaf, or even as a tangy glaze for BBQ. Don’t forget a squirt on your next hot dog, too, to really amp things up.

And, of course, we can’t leave you without our cautionary note: Use gloves when handling habaneros. All chilies can give you chili burn, but chili burn from extra hots and above (like the habanero) is at another level. Protect yourself while handling them throughout the cooking process.

Pepper Palace Reaper BBQ Sauce: Extreme Grilling

by Matt Bray

A BBQ sauce for those that think “big” and “bold” are entry level…

The grim reaper on the label should tell you enough. Pepper Palace’s Reaper BBQ Sauce, featuring the infamously scorching Carolina Reaper pepper, is a taste bud land mine. Yet, thankfully this isn’t a story of all heat and no flavor. There’s just enough tomato sweetness and peppery spice to make things interesting before the Reaper has its way. Let’s break down this super-hot BBQ sauce.

Spicy Vodka Sauce

by Matt Bray

Amp up that penne ala vodka…

Just a little crushed red pepper brings your homemade vodka sauce to life. In this recipe, we use only a pinch (or so), but if you’re heat-inclined like us, feel free to be a little more heavy-handed in the amount used.

Spicy vodka sauce is delicious of course with penne, but any pasta will do. Or try it with baked or grilled chicken. The creamy and spicy sauce brings a whole lot of flavor to the table.

Spicy Red Beans And Rice

by Matt Bray

Spiced just right…

Whether as a side or as a meal on its own, the Southern cooking staple with a kick – spicy red beans and rice – really hits the spot. It’s that perfect mix of salty, earthy, and of course spicy that’s just impossible to deny. Try it with barbecue, you won’t be disappointed.

The heat comes from moderate amounts of paprika, cayenne, Cajun seasoning, and Tabasco – potent enough to tickle the tongue, but not so hot as to chase off family and friends. We love it topped with some fresh jalapeño pepper wheels. Of course, it’s optional, but it adds a delicious bright pepper flavor.

Jalapeño Corn Fritters

by Matt Bray

Fire up your fritters…

A little jalapeño pepper goes far in a batch of corn fritters. It’s just enough spice to perk you up, and the cumin and black pepper provide an earthy undertone that works perfectly with both the chili pepper and the subtle sweetness of corn.

Top these fritters with a little sour cream and guacamole and it’s a dream side for your grilled meats. Or you can approach these fritters like a meal and lay out a full spread of taco fixings, like additional jalapeños, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and onions.

Cajun Lasagna

by Matt Bray

A bolder family meal…

There’s just a hint of spice, but a heck of a lot of southern flavor in this Cajun lasagna. Buoyed by Andouille sausage and a healthy amount of Cajun seasoning (or Creole seasoning), it’s got that extra “somethin’ somethin'” that’ll turn your typical family meal into something a bit more memorable

The heat mainly comes from a simple source: crushed red pepper. Yes, there’s some cayenne in the Cajun seasoning, too, but the red pepper flakes are really the power ingredient for the meal’s fire. So control your lasagna’s spiciness by adding or subtracting here, not by adding or subtracting Cajun seasoning. You may overpower the lasagna with too much Cajun (is there a thing?) or too little by messing with the amount of seasoning mix.