Marinades and Sauces

A simple sour cream hack…

Sour cream and Mexican food often goes hand in hand. Sometimes there’s plenty of spice already in that Mexican meal, and other times…well you need a little something extra to amp things up a bit. It’s very simple to turn that sour cream you’re scooping right from the container into a topping that’s a little more fun. Our spicy sour cream recipe is as easy as it gets: just a little chipotle powder and salt and you have a delicious topper for those mild tacos or enchiladas.

We love using chipotle pepper because it’s not only spicy, it also has a delicious smokiness to it. But if smoky isn’t your thing, you can adjust the recipe using various levels of paprika and cayenne pepper powder. They can still bring some heat without that smoky undertone.

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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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Ready those Eggs Benedict for something spicy…

We love breakfast heat, no doubt about it. So a little spicy hollandaise sauce (heat by cayenne) over a delicious plate of Eggs Benedict – just the thought of it makes us smile. But hollandaise sauce can serve many more purposes as well. Try it over steamed vegetables like broccoli or asparagus. It makes a delicious spicy white sauce for biscuits, too. 

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A simple spicy white sauce…

Bechamel sauce just works when other sauces don’t. Don’t want a tomato tangy zing on pasta? Try bechamel. Want to add some homey heft to veggies like cauliflower and broccoli? Same. Yet that ‘tasty but safe’ white sauce can push the envelope still. Spice it up with cayenne pepper powder and your dish turns from simply good to more than memorable. It’s quick to make and fiery good. 

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A hearty and spicy sauce…

Between the mix of veggies and plenty of spice, Cajun tomato sauce will really rev up that plain pasta night. Along with the Cajun seasoning, extra cayenne pepper powder is the “rev” fuel here. It’s a bold, hearty, and spicy sauce. Use it anywhere a tomato sauce is called for: as a pasta sauce, a stromboli dipper, a mozzerella stick side, just to name a few!

No Cajun seasoning in your cabinet? That’s ok – you can make it yourself with many common spice rack spices. See our recipe here.

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Fiery smooth and sweet…

If you’ve never experienced honey and chili peppers, you owe it to yourself to explore this surprisingly delicious flavor pairing. A little simmering of honey and your favorite spicy chili brings a fiery undertone to that honey smooth sweetness. Spicy honey is terrific in tea or drizzled over dessert.

You have lots of chili pepper options here, though mature chilies are the best option. They tend to be sweeter and spicier, less grassy and bright, then the youthful green chilies. Fresno peppers and red jalapeños are great options in the medium heat range, while habaneros or even the infamous ghost pepper can bring super-hotness to that honey. Take care when using the chilies from the upper-end of the scale. Use gloves when cutting and handling them to keep severe chili burn at bay.

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Your meat will never be the same…

Get ready….Sriracha marinade, in all its sweet, tangy, and spicy glory, will transform your steaks into something memorable. The famous rooster sauce pairs up with lime, honey, and Dijon mustard (along with other bold ingredients) in this recipe. Use it as a grilling marinade, or try it as a spicy dipping sauce for chicken or steak satay or chicken tenders. 

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Sweet sweet spice…

Whether as a barbecue sauce marinade or as an on-the-side dipper, maple chipotle sauce delivers a perfect mix of sweet and spice. Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add the heat, along with a smoky and earthy flair that’s a perfect flavor foil to sweet maple syrup. It’s delicious on steaks or pork, and we love it just as much as a chicken finger dipper. 

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