Sides

Spicy Chana Masala

Spicy Chana Masala

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A hotter take on the classic Indian chickpea curry. Chickpeas simmer in a cooked-down tomato and onion masala, with a fresh minced jalapeño stirred in at the end so it stays green and sharp.

chipotle sweet potato fries

Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries

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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.

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spicy glazed carrots

Spicy Glazed Carrots

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 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.

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tomato rasam

Tomato Rasam

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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. 

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Mexican Bean Salad

Fiery Mexican Bean Salad

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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.

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Spicy Refried Beans

Spicy Refried Beans

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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.

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Spicy Collard Greens

Spicy Collard Greens

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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. 

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Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

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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 …

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Red beans simmered low and slow with a smoked ham hock, ladled over rice and finished with fresh jalapeño.

Spicy Red Beans And Rice

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Red kidney beans simmered with a smoked ham hock, Cajun seasoning, cayenne and Tabasco, then spooned over rice. Mild, smoky and filling.

Jalapeno Corn Fritters

Jalapeño Corn Fritters

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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. 🌶️ …

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