Vegetarian – Page 31

Chipotle Pumpkin Seeds

Smoky snacking…

Pumpkins are the vegetable gift that keeps on giving. Not only do you have the delicious pumpkin flesh to partake in for spicy pumpkin pies, you also have those fresh pumpkin seeds that are oh so good for snacking. You can spice up pumpkin seeds in many ways, but one of our faves is via chipotle powder. Roasted chipotle pumpkin seeds have that earthy flavor you expect. Plus that chipotle pepper provides a tasty hint of smokiness along with a very eatable medium heat.

If you don’t have chipotle powder around the house, you can purchase some from our spicery. Or you can opt for using cayenne powder. See a good spicy pumpkin seeds recipe here that will serve. It won’t provide the smokiness, but it doubles down on the spiciness due to the extra heat of cayenne pepper.

Jalapeño Arugula Aioli

by Matt Bray

A fresh tasting dip or spread…

When you first think arugula and jalapeño, you may not think there’s much in common. But there’s a lot more “there” there than you may think. Arugula, with its fresh peppery taste, pairs so well with the bright, grassy flavor of jalapeño peppers. It makes for one delicious aioli that’s perfect either as a dip or a spread. It’s particularly good on veggie sandwiches or go hearty and try it as a side to steak. It’s a fresh (and lightly fiery) sauce that’s pretty versatile even with its unique flavor.

Jalapeño peppers are typically hot enough for most. But, if you’re like us, you may want to increase the heat up a notch. We recommend adjusting the chili pepper used instead of increasing the amount of jalapeños used. Serrano peppers have a similar (though not exact) bright flavor, but they are a notch up on the pepper scale – often twice as hot (or even more) than a jalapeño.

Jalapeño Cheddar Popcorn

by Matt Bray

A snack time favorite turned up a notch…

Mixing sharp cheddar flavor with bright and spicy jalapeño pepper is a great way to boost the presence of a snack time favorite. Jalapeño cheddar popcorn won’t overwhelm you on heat (unless you want it to), so this is still a pretty family-friendly cheese popcorn option for movie night or parties. Jalapeño powder may be difficult to buy at your local grocer, but we offer it at our spicery so get ready to add this delicious green powder to your spice rack.

Of course, you can add additional jalapeño powder if you want to boost up that spiciness (or more cheddar cheese powder for some more sharpness), but we let the choice be yours here. If you like this recipe, be sure to check out some of our other spicy popcorn recipes that’ll totally elevate your snack game.

Cajun Ranch Dipping Sauce

by Matt Bray

A simple Southern dipper…

Like mayonnaise or sour cream, ranch dressing is a perfect base for a mix of fiery spices. It makes it so simple to pull together something with a little Cajun flair. This Cajun ranch dipping sauce has three ingredients only, but the flavor is a whole heck of a lot more than what you’d expect. Cajun seasoning has a wide world of spices in it that give this dipping sauce its Southern charm.

We add additional fieriness to this simple recipe via a pinch of cayenne pepper. You can opt for it or drop it completely if you want a milder overall flavor. We like it even hotter than a pinch (think 1/4 teaspoon) if you’re one for extra-spicy in everything. Use this Cajun ranch dipping sauce with fried foods (it’s so yum with fried pickles – try it with this recipe). It’s also delicious with a simple vegetable platter – it beats the heck out of a plain ranch salad dressing dip with crudites.

Salt-Free Cajun Seasoning

by Matt Bray

No salt with a smoky twist…

This is a spin-off of our homemade Cajun seasoning recipe for those who need a salt-free recipe option. Sure, it’s simple to simply pull salt from the original recipe, but salt surely is a flavor enhancer. We like to add something a little different to the mix to bring something special to a no-salt Cajun seasoning alternative. Here it’s a touch of chipotle pepper powder to go along with the cayenne and paprika.

This addition adds a little more spice, along with an undertone of smokiness to the Cajun seasoning. It’s these flavor additions that make this spice blend its own unique take on Cajun seasoning. Don’t want the smokiness? That’s ok, simply remove the chipotle powder from the recipe and you have a blend that’s plenty tasty ready for use! Sprinkle it over steak as a spice rub or use it with soups and dressings to rev up the flavor.

Orange Chipotle Sauce

by Matt Bray

A tangy twist to BBQ…

The tangy, citrusy bite of orange is one of our favorite flavors to pair with pork on BBQ day. Now throwing chipotle pepper (one of our chili pepper favorites) into the mix, too, makes one delicious flavor pairing for the grill. It’s all good things in this orange chipotle sauce: tangy, smoky, earthy, and bold.

Don’t limit yourself to pork here (though yes, it’s oh so good with pork ribs). It also pairs well with grilled chicken, or you can use it as a dipper for chicken fingers for something different than the norm.

Ancho Cream Sauce

by Matt Bray

Perfect for Mexican night…

Want something different than the typical salsa or tomato-based chili sauce for Mexican night? Something that’s mild enough that the whole family can enjoy, yet still has plenty of flavor? Meet the ancho cream sauce. It’s super-mild (ancho peppers are typically half the heat of even the mildest jalapeños), yet anchos are packed with flavor. They’re earthy, slightly smoky, and even a little sweet – a perfect foil to rich cream flavor.

Use this sauce with tortilla-based Mexican meals – enchiladas, burritos, or quesadillas are all great options.

Jalapeño Creamed Corn

by Matt Bray

Smooth with a mild kick…

Creamed corn is always a deliciously smooth and slightly decadent side. Who doesn’t love a base of butter, cream cheese, and cheddar? It’s delish, especially when we introduce a little jalapeño pepper to the mix. A few jalapeños provide a tasty kick to creamed corn. It’s not an overwhelming heat here, more a slight sizzle that most everyone in the family can enjoy.

If you want more spiciness, try using serrano peppers instead, if your supermarket carries them. They have typically double the heat with a comparable bright, grassy flavor. They tend to be smaller in size, so you may need to adjust the amount you use in the recipe.

Kickin’ Cajun Dipping Sauce

by Matt Bray

Simple Southern charm…

Want a simple dipping sauce that still charms the pants off your guests? This kickin’ Cajun dipping sauce is all that. It takes only five minutes to pull together, but it’s chock full of Southern charm and a decent kick to boot.

There are multiple heat sources here. Cajun seasoning typically contains a bit of chili pepper powder (typically cayenne pepper) and the Louisiana hot sauce adds some additional pop (and a subtle tang). We like to top it off with additional cayenne for extra boom, too. This sauce is excellent for all sorts of things: pita, veggies, and grilled chicken fingers to name a few.

Spicy Chana Masala

by Matt Bray

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.