Spicy Recipes – Page 53

Sweet And Spicy French Dressing

From greens to taco salad? Yes…

French dressing is sort of a salad dressing secret weapon. It’s of course a delicious greens topper for those that love sweet and tangy dressings. But French dressing (Catalina dressing too) also make a yummy sauce base for taco salads. Yes, it’s true – see a real delicious taco salad recipe right here featuring French dressing.

This spicy version of the salad dressing standard uses both mild paprika and fiery cayenne pepper. Want just a mild simmer? Remove the cayenne pepper completely. Or, of course, feel free to add more if you prefer things even spicier.

Mexican Chocolate Milk

by Matt Bray

Spicy and refreshing with a touch of smoke…

A refreshing glass of chilled Mexican chocolate milk is a terrific way to take the edge off the day. While you can use authentic Mexican chocolate (like Ibarra) to make a version of this delicious drink, this recipe leans instead into what you likely already have in your refrigerator and spice rack. Chocolate syrup and cinnamon imitate the flavor of what you’d find with authentic Mexican chocolate, and then we add some smoky spiciness through fiery chipotle powder.

If you prefer something hot instead, take a look at our Aztec hot chocolate recipe (also featuring chipotle powder) or our spicy hot chocolate recipe using cayenne powder.

Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries

by Matt Bray

Sweet fries with a touch of fiery smokiness…

For those that love sweet potato fries, it’s a ton of fun to pair them with fiery flavors. The sweetness here is one of those perfect foils for spicy spices And then there’s that smokiness of chipotle pepper. It’s so many flavors in one – sweet, smoky, and spicy together is a real mouth explosion – and yet they are really simple to make.

Chipotle sweet potato fries are a delicious match for burgers or steaks. If you prefer a sweet fry without the smokiness, take a look at our spicy sweet potato fries recipe that uses cayenne pepper and chili powder instead.

Spicy Tahini Sauce

by Matt Bray

Not just for hummus…

When you think tahini, “hummus” is likely the first thing that comes to mind. Well, that and…nothing. Many know nothing about this delicious paste. Hummus is where it’s found among commonly purchased foods, but tahini can be a heck of a lot more than that earthy, nutty, and slightly bitter flavor behind the chickpeas.

Take for instance this spicy tahini sauce recipe. It’s simple to create, but it provides an exotic touch to many common-day cooking needs. It’s delicious as a salad dressing (just add more water to thin the sauce to your preferred dressing thickness) or as a dip for vegetables and crusty bread. It’s perfect, too, as a sandwich spread for roasted vegetable sandwiches and more. Tahini also pairs well with lamb and other rich meats. It’s a big earthy, slightly bitter flavor that doesn’t get lost with these bold flavors.

Cayenne pepper provides the fire here. Use as directed and adjust according to your heat preference.

Spicy Baba Ganoush

by Matt Bray

Eggplant dip turned bold…

For most, spicy hummus would be the first Middle Eastern dip they’d reach for (and we have a few delicious recipes for that, like this smoky chipotle one) – but a spicy baba ganoush is so yum as well. This eggplant dip is perfect paired with hummus as a side to chopped fresh vegetables and pita chips, or use it as a sandwich spread (it’s perfect on a roasted vegetable sandwich).

Cayenne pepper is the simple heat source here, with mild paprika as a garnish for color. Of course, adjust the amount used of cayenne to increase or decrease the heat. Or you could opt for a hot paprika as a garnish to provide a heat boost along with the color pop.

Spicy Granola

by Matt Bray

Hello smoky sizzle…

Granola is one of those perfect “pick me up” foods – whether as a morning breakfast or afternoon snack it gives you a nice boost of energy (and it tastes pretty good too!). You’ll find many recipes for spiced granola, but spicy granola? Well that’s another story. We like our granola with a little sizzle…in fact smoky sizzle in this recipe.

The heat comes from a mix of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper powder. You can control the smoke to heat levels by adjusting the amounts in the recipe according to what you want. Less smoke, more heat? Lower the smoked paprika, increase the cayenne. The spiciness makes this more a snacking granola than a breakfast option (but hey – we certainly don’t judge – we reach for heat at breakfast all the time).

Mango Ginger Habanero Sauce

by Matt Bray

Tropically-sweet with teeth…

Mango and habanero pepper are quite the pair. They are perfect foils in the kitchen, with just enough tropical sweetness in common to blend perfectly. There are so many twists on mango habanero sauces, but one of our favorites brings fresh ginger into the equation. The exotic warmth it brings to this sauce really ratchets up the flavor here.

For extreme eaters, this is a good all-purpose sauce. You can use it as a deliciously intense fish taco sauce or as an fiery dipping sauce for fried chicken fingers. It’s also a terrific alternative to salsa as a chip dip (if you like fruitier dips). If you want a variant that’s better with barbecue, see our mango habanero barbecue sauce that also has a twist of ginger.

Extra Spicy Southwest Seasoning

by Matt Bray

A quick mix for that Tex-Mex taste…

Need a quick spice rack mix to liven up your tacos, burritos, or fajitas? Let’s hit that spice rack. This extra spicy southwest seasoning takes only six exceptionally common spices and blends them into a simple, yet tasty Tex-Mex blend.

Don’t only look at Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine, this southwest seasoning is also delicious as a quick and dirty chicken or steak rub to add a boost of flavor and heat. Cayenne pepper provides the pow in this recipe, and you can adjust to your heat tolerance – but note, a little goes a long way. Ramp up with care.

Spicy Sloppy Joes

by Matt Bray

Your favorite messy meal with plenty of spice…

Get your sloppy game on with this traditional favorite gone plenty spicy. This spicy sloppy joes recipe features both jalapeño pepper and Tabasco sauce to kick the norm up a few notches. It’s a great memorable meal for spicy food fans on game day or family night.

For something a little different, try the sloppy joe ground beef with pasta instead of hamburger buns. We like it paired with penne pasta.

Spicy Avocado Salsa

by Matt Bray

Guacamole goes chunky…

That’s avocado salsa simply put. It is a guacamole, but with chunks of avocado (among other chopped salsa ingredients) instead of the creamy smooth experience you’ll often get from many store-bought options or recipes. It’s chunky like a salsa, making it a fun guacamole alternative for a game-day or party appetizer.

We like it spicy, so we reach for serrano peppers in this recipe. They may be available at your local grocer, but if they aren’t (or you prefer slightly less heat), a jalapeño pepper works as well.