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.
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.
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.
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.
A cup of maple syrup and half a teaspoon of cayenne make a sweet, warm topping for pancakes and waffles, and an easy glaze for pork.
A cucumber martini with a kick: fresh jalapeño muddled with cucumber, shaken with vodka and cucumber syrup, and topped with a splash of soda. Makes two.
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.
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