Matt Bray 
A rustic, spicy tomato soup with red wine, herbs, cumin and a good dose of red pepper flakes, simmered for an hour and blended as smooth or chunky as you like.
Creamy russet mashed potatoes with blanched jalapeño mashed into a paste and stirred in to taste, so the mild heat is even in every bite.
Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, plus a half teaspoon of cayenne for a gentle warmth that builds as you eat. Keep a glass of milk handy.
Yes, a jalapeño cranberry sauce is the perfect side for a spicy Thanksgiving meal, but it can be oh so much more than that. We love it on pork chops or as a tangy grilled chicken topper with a twist. If jalapeño heat isn’t quite enough, try using serrano peppers instead. They can double the spiciness while still maintaining that crisp bright taste that pairs perfectly with cranberry.
Scoville heat units (SHU): 500 – 4,000 SHU
Jalapeño reference point: Equal heat to 20 times milder
Origin: Basque region, France
Products and seeds: Espelette pepper on Amazon
French cuisine is a lot of things – rich, subtle, and rustic come fast to mind – but meals with any sort of heat is not high on the list. That is except for dishes starring the French native Espelette pepper. Also known as piment d’Espelette, this chili is a common spice of the Basque region of France, and while not a scorcher, it has a delicious subtle heat, slightly smoky and slightly citrusy. It’s so essential to the Basque region and its cuisine that it’s been given – like some wines and cheeses – protective AOC certification.
When you move from spiced sweet potato soup to spicy, you have a dish that’ll warm you up no matter how cold it gets outside. The heat here comes from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and with it comes more than a hint of smokiness that …
It’s true. Sriracha works with near everything. At least in our book, it’s a go-to seasoning just like Old Bay or cayenne powder. This Sriracha slaw is a good example – an everyday side is turned just a little more special with a few tablespoons of Rooster Sauce. Try it with BBQ or as a sandwich side. It’ll warm you up just right.
What are Melrose peppers? The Windy City may be the last place you think of when you think about spicy peppers. And even with the Melrose pepper, you’d still be right. Melrose peppers, with their curved, tapered bodies, may look like hotter chilies, but really they are zero-heat …
Roasted butternut squash soup with cumin, coriander, curry powder and a jalapeño or two, blended smooth and finished with lemon. A cozy fall lunch with crusty bread.
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.
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