Vegetarian – Page 38

Spicy Corn On The Cob

Golden sweet meet spicy…

We can dive into corn on the cob any day of the week, especially fresh oven- or grill-roasted corn. But our love for the golden sweetness of corn takes another important step when those delicious ears are made fiery. There’s so much flavor in this spicy corn on the cob recipe to go along with the fun crunch and texture of the eating experience.

Our spicy corn on the cob relies on cayenne pepper for the heat. Cumin provides a little earthiness – like you’d get in chili powder. In fact, if you’d like a lesser-heat version of this recipe, simply remove the cayenne powder and substitute in a chili seasoning. The cilantro and lime zest provide a Mexican flair – a little tangy freshness. You can go there – or simply enjoy the earthy fire of the core recipe. These are perfection on the grill, but you can oven-roast them any time of the year to enjoy whenever you want.

If this spicy corn on the cob recipe is right up your alley, don’t miss our Mexican corn on the cob recipe as well. Its mix of paprika, chili powder, and cojita cheese is reminiscent of Mexican street food in all the right ways.

Spicy Almonds

by Matt Bray

Toasted with cayenne kick…

Sure roasted almonds alone are excellent to snack on as they are, but why not take ten minutes and turn those almonds into a fiery treat? Spicy almonds are perfect for parties, adding that extra spice twist that’ll make a memorable splash among friends and family.

Cayenne pepper provides the primary kick, with a little extra warmth from black pepper. It’s significant spice, so feel free to pull back on the cayenne used if you’re preparing for a group where spice tolerance is mixed. Halve the amount of cayenne (1/2 teaspoon) is best for those occasions.

The recipe calls for unsalted roasted almonds, but you can use salted roasted almonds instead – simply remove the extra salt from the ingredient list. We prefer less salt and more heat (and, if you’re reading PepperScale you may too), so opt for the unsalted roasted almonds if you can so that you can control the balance completely.

Homemade Green Chili Powder

by Matt Bray

Mean green…

It may surprise some, but green chili powder is real and just as tasty as any of the red chili powders commonly available. But the rub (no pun intended): Green chili powder is a whole heck of a lot harder to source. You can buy it online, but if you have extra green chilies sitting around, like Anaheim peppers or jalapeños, you can make it yourself with just a little time and a lot of sun (or a dehydrator).

You can use green chili powder just as you would red chili powders that are 100% chili pepper-based (cayenne powder, ancho powder, chipotle powder, etc…). The main difference is in the color (obviously) and flavor. The color is perfect for adding heat to salsa verde and other green sauces (as red powders can impact their color). Flavor-wise, green chili powders tend to not be as earthy and bold – think a more subtle flavor that’s impacted by the natural flavor profile of the pepper and not a smoking process (like chipotle powder).

Green chili powder works very well with meats that are more mild in flavor, like pork and chicken, and it’s also delicious sprinkled on fresh salads to provide a spice bump.

Cilantro Jalapeño Pesto

by Matt Bray

A spicy twist on the traditional pesto…

Cilantro jalapeño pesto takes the earthiness of traditional pesto and layers in a fresh fiery bite. It makes a perfect pasta sauce, sandwich spread, or spicy dip for the heat-inclined. Don’t overlook it, too, for use as an out-of-the-box taco sauce, especially for steak or chicken tacos. Beyond the jalapeño fire, the cilantro’s freshness and the hint of lime work very well with the flavors typical in Mexican cuisine.

You can turn up the heat even more by substituting in serrano peppers for the jalapeño. They provide a similar flavor profile (bright and grassy), only with a big uptick in heat. Serrano peppers can double the heat (and sometimes more) of jalapeño. You can also opt for additional jalapeño pepper to increase the spiciness, but careful with the pesto’s overall balance if you go this direction. Add additional minced jalapeño a teaspoon at a time and taste for balance often.

Spicy Watermelon Gazpacho

by Matt Bray

Sweet, spicy, and refreshing…

Now this is a soup that satisfies on a hot summer day. This spicy watermelon gazpacho has that refreshing watermelon flavor mixed with the sweetness of pineapple juice and honey, plus an exotic twist of fresh ginger. Then layered on top of it all is a bright jalapeño pepper heat that adds just the perfect level of tingle to the taste. It’s a thirst quencher – truly a satisfying summer soup. Pair it with a crisp white wine and a summer vegetable salad and you’re in eating heaven.

If you want to step up the spiciness, you can use serrano peppers instead of jalapeños. Start with only one serrano as the serrano’s spiciness typically more than doubles the heat of jalapeño while maintaining a very similar bright pepper flavor.

Homemade Habanero Mustard

by Matt Bray

Habanero heat, wicked tang…

This is one big and bold mustard, that’s for sure. Habanero peppers as the base deliver an extra hot punch. Be sure you and your guests are ready for this step up in condiments (and label properly) as it’ll come as a heated surprise.

Spicy Honey BBQ Sauce

by Matt Bray

Delicious on chicken or ribs… The mix of sweet and heat of this spicy honey BBQ sauce hits the spot. It’s perfect as a marinade for ribs or chicken when barbecuing. But don’t overlook the potential of this recipe as a dipping sauce. It’s total …

Red Pepper Hummus

by Matt Bray

Sweet and smoky…

Adding a little red bell pepper and smoked paprika to your traditional hummus is a delicious twist. It’s slightly sweet with a hint of smoke and only the mildest sense of simmering heat. The smokiness comes from both the smoked paprika and the freshly roasted red bell pepper. Roasting the bell only takes ten minutes under a broiler, with a nifty kitchen trick after to make peeling the pepper super simple.

Serve the red pepper hummus with pita or vegetable crudités as a healthy dipper. Or – one of our favorites – try it as a spread for veggie sandwiches.

Red Pepper Aioli

by Matt Bray

Sweet red…

With only a hint of heat, this deliciously sweet and tangy red pepper aioli is family friendly and very versatile. Try it as a dipping sauce for breads and cheeses or use it as an entree sauce. It’s a simple way to boost the flavor of grilled chicken. Or try it as a spread for vegetable sandwiches – it really amps the flavor.

The recipe calls for only a dash of crushed red pepper, but feel free to be heavy-handed if you’re looking for that extra spice.

Old Bay Peanuts

by Matt Bray

Southern snacking…

There are some simple snacks in life that bring so much joy. And for any Marylander, Old Bay peanuts are one of those things. Think of the peanut as the perfect transfer mechanism to get our Old Bay fix. Seriously. It’s Southern snacking perfected down to its simplest form. Easy to make, deliciously nutty and salty, and don’t forget the subtle simmering heat from the paprika in the Old Bay.