Matt Bray 
There’s an Asian flair to this spicy cucumber salad provided by the light coating of rice vinegar, sesame oil, and soy sauce. And it’s brought to spicy life by a sprinkle of crushed red pepper or cayenne powder. It may look unassuming, but there’s a lot of flavor here. It works either as an appetizer or side, and we love pairing it as a complementary dish against savory barbecue. As different as the flavors are, they just work together.
What are Beaver Dam peppers? When you think chili peppers, Wisconsin may not be the first place that pops into your mind. But there’s a hidden treasure up near the Canadian border with a very fitting name. The Beaver Dam pepper – brought to the …
Jalapeño peppers add a little oomph to what’s already a delicious meal. We especially like the pairing of the chilies against fresh red apple – it adds a light sweetness that’s very refreshing and a splash of color that looks terrific on the plate. Try it on a bed of lettuce, or opt for that tasty chicken salad sandwich.
For only four ingredients, there’s a whole lot of flavor going on in this cayenne lemonade. The tart of fresh lemons is met head on with the earthy sweetness of maple syrup, only to be trumped with the simmering heat of cayenne pepper spice. It’s spot on for a cayenne maple syrup cleanse and also quite unique as a summer refresher.
The beauty of this spicy maple syrup recipe is its simplicity. All it takes is a little cayenne pepper powder and you have a rich and spicy topping that’s as perfect on corn waffles as it is as a pork loin glaze. Try it, too, with fruit or berry toppings on pancakes. The sweet and spicy pairing is extra special.
Some opt for a few dashes of hot sauce to breathe fire into a syrup, but we prefer the earthy heat of cayenne. It combines well and there’s no chance of a vinegar tang due to an overly strong pour.
You could simply create a refreshing cucumber martini, but why on earth stop there if you’re a spicy food fan? Add in a layer of heat by muddling fresh jalapeño pepper with the cucumber. It adds a surprising spice to this refreshing cocktail that you and your guests no doubt will enjoy.
If you’re an “all-in” spice kind of person, you could also opt for serrano pepper here. Serranos have a comparable bright, fresh flavor as the jalapeño, but they’re typically double the heat.
Smoothies are an excellent way to gain the benefits of lots of fruits and vegetables in one serving, and we love them, too, with a little kick. Sure you could add cayenne pepper to just any smoothie and it may (or may not) work taste-wise, but here’s our favorite recipe for a hearty and healthy beverage with a kick. We love the pairing of that earthy Kale flavor with the tanginess of orange, the sweetness of honey, and the spiciness of cayenne. The fact that it’s so very good for you, too, is just icing on the cake. Kale and cayenne is a potent energy boosting combo.
What’s an egg roll, spring roll, or fried wonton to do without a little spicy sauce on the side? The same, of course, could be said about nearly anything in our books, but in this instance a bold Thai chili sauce is well in order. This recipe delivers the big heat of Thai chilies (50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units) with a pinch of garlic, sugar, and salt. Want some extra oomph? Leave those seeds in while processing. It brings this sauce to another spicy stratosphere.
Sure chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are smoky enough in their own right, but to really deliver on the promise of this recipe’s name, smoked paprika is added into the mix, too. It’s a doubling down on smoky chili pepper ingredients to bring both that rustic earthiness and a nice dose of heat. Try it on sandwiches or simply as a dipping sauce.
If you’re seeking an aioli recipe that’s light on the heat but delivers on the smoke, opting for ancho peppers is he way to go. As they’re dried poblanos, the heat is very mild, but it’s the smoky, earthy flavor that’s the real star. Paired with tangy mayonnaise and lime juice adds a tropical flair to the spread. It’s terrific with grilled shrimp, crab cakes, or even just as a French fry dip.