Marinades and Sauces

Spicy Sour Cream

Spicy Sour Cream

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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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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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Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

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Smoky and sweet… If you like your barbecue on the sweeter side, yet still with plenty of smoky flavor and spiciness, honey chipotle BBQ sauce is right up your alley. Chipotle peppers have a very eatable medium heat to go along with their natural smokiness. We pair these …

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A glass jar of dark red ancho BBQ sauce with a drip down the side, next to a speckled white bowl of sauce with a spoon, on a rustic wooden pantry shelf.

Ancho BBQ Sauce

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A mild, smooth BBQ sauce built on rehydrated ancho peppers, red wine and ketchup. Sweet, a little smoky and earthy, and great on grilled pork, chicken and fries.

Spicy Hollandaise Sauce

Spicy Hollandaise Sauce

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A rich, lemony hollandaise with a cayenne kick, whisked over simmering water in about 15 minutes. Spoon it over Eggs Benedict, steamed asparagus or warm biscuits.

A bowl of creamy bechamel sauce dusted with cayenne, with a wooden spoon, a small dish of cayenne and steamed cauliflower on an oak table

Spicy Bechamel Sauce

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A creamy bechamel with butter, flour, milk and light cream, warmed up with cayenne and a pinch of nutmeg. Ready in about 20 minutes for pasta and vegetables.

A speckled white bowl of chunky Cajun tomato sauce with diced green bell pepper, celery and onion, a wooden spoon resting in it, on a worn cutting board beside half a lemon

Cajun Tomato Sauce

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A hearty Cajun tomato sauce built on onion, celery and bell pepper, with Cajun seasoning, cayenne and a little lemon zest. Ready in about 30 minutes for pasta, dipping or spooning over rice.

Spicy Honey

Spicy Honey

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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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Sriracha Marinade

Sriracha Marinade

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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 …

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Maple Chipotle Sauce

Maple Chipotle Sauce

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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 …

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