Sides – Page 9 – PepperScale

Spicy Chana Masala

Chickpeas with attitude…

Cayenne pepper brings the sizzle to this chana masala recipe. This chickpea-based Indian favorite is delicious served simply with naan bread or try it atop rice or couscous to make more of a meal of it. It’s a perfect side dish for Indian meals, especially if you’re looking for something that’s not breaded and fried.

There’s an exotic mix of spices here beyond fiery cayenne and chili powder, including garam masala, amchoor powder (also known as mango powder), ginger, and turmeric. It’s a bold turn for chickpeas, so feel free to adjust the spice proportions of each to your liking.

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 Glazed Carrots

by Matt Bray

A sweet and spicy side…

Matching the earthy sweetness of carrots with butter and brown sugar is already a delicious pairing. But when you add in some chili powder and a pinch of cayenne powder? Now we’re talking a spicy side delight.

This is a great side dish for roasted turkey, ham, or even steak, so keep it at hand during holiday season or for dinner parties. It’s a quick recipe to make that has a lot of flavor for the effort. The cayenne pepper powder is optional, but just a little pinch brings a nice warmth to the carrots.

Tomato Rasam

by Matt Bray

A “spice-potent” Indian tomato soup…

If you love Indian spices, tomato rasam is a must dish for an authentic night of Southern Indian food. It’s simply served over rice as a filling meal on its own or as a side dish to a larger meal. This is spice-filled comfort food at its best. Tangy, earthy, aromatic, and – yes of course – spicy!

The recipe calls for kashmiri chilies as the heat source. You can increase the heat by using rasam powder – either as a replacement to the cumin and coriander (see the notes) or as an additive at the end of the steps. Rasam powder (see our recipe here or buy it here) is spicy in its own right, so it adds additional kick.

Fiery Mexican Bean Salad

by Matt Bray

A bean salad with attitude…

As a barbecue side, Mexican bean salad is top of the line. Not only is it tasty, it also brings colorful life to the table. It’s an explosion of yellows, reds, and greens that looks fresh and fun.

And then there’s the other “f” in this recipe: fire. Jalapeño pepper provides a fresh bright pop while cayenne pepper powder layers a heat undertone through the entire spicy side dish. This most definitely is a bean salad with attitude – which works real well with bolder meat rubs and sweet BBQ sauces.

Spicy Refried Beans

by Matt Bray

Homemade refried beans with kick!

Sure, it’s really easy to pick up a can of refried beans from the supermarket, but making your own is both more rewarding and a heck of a lot healthier. Plus, you can spice things up just the way you want it. This spicy refried beans recipe steers relies on the oils from serrano peppers (or jalapeños if you can’t easily source serranos) – cooking them halved lengthwise with the beans. You can then remove the chilies for a smoother refried bean mix, or chop up the chilies and incorporate then into the beans.

Spicy refried beans are a delicious side for Mexican meals, or simply serve them with tortilla chips for a delicious spicy snack.

Spicy Collard Greens

by Matt Bray

These greens are fiery good…

We’re big fans of collard greens, but adding in a little fiery sizzle to go along with salty bacon really takes this spicy collard greens recipe to new heights. This is a perfect BBQ side – whether for grilled chicken, pulled pork, or steaks. The spiciness is from the spice rack staple – crushed red pepper. It’s easy to control how much heat you want. For the optimal flavor, it’s best to add in the CRP before covering and simmering the collard greens (step 6), but you can adjust to taste on the back-end right before serving.

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

by Matt Bray

A side of sweet and spice…

It’s no secret – sweet potato fries are delicious simply plain. A little dash of salt along with that natural earthy sweetness is plenty good. But like many things sweet – they sure do pair well with fiery spices. Here we pair sweet potato fries with a little chili powder and cayenne pepper. That’s balanced with some brown sugar to level out the sweet just right. These are unforgettable fries, whether as a side for BBQ or a burger. The cayenne pepper powder is optional to the recipe, but it does provide a nice medium heat that chili powder alone won’t bring.

Spicy Red Beans And Rice

by Matt Bray

Spiced just right…

Whether as a side or as a meal on its own, the Southern cooking staple with a kick – spicy red beans and rice – really hits the spot. It’s that perfect mix of salty, earthy, and of course spicy that’s just impossible to deny. Try it with barbecue, you won’t be disappointed.

The heat comes from moderate amounts of paprika, cayenne, Cajun seasoning, and Tabasco – potent enough to tickle the tongue, but not so hot as to chase off family and friends. We love it topped with some fresh jalapeño pepper wheels. Of course, it’s optional, but it adds a delicious bright pepper flavor.

Jalapeño Corn Fritters

by Matt Bray

Fire up your fritters…

A little jalapeño pepper goes far in a batch of corn fritters. It’s just enough spice to perk you up, and the cumin and black pepper provide an earthy undertone that works perfectly with both the chili pepper and the subtle sweetness of corn.

Top these fritters with a little sour cream and guacamole and it’s a dream side for your grilled meats. Or you can approach these fritters like a meal and lay out a full spread of taco fixings, like additional jalapeños, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and onions.