Vegetarian

Homemade Jamaican Jerk Sauce

Homemade Jamaican Jerk Sauce

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Deliciously spiced and seriously spicy…

Jamaican jerk sauce is not for the timid, that’s for sure. No sauce that starts with a half dozen Scotch bonnet peppers is one to take lightly. But that’s of course why we love it so much. It’s spicy, but also deliciously spiced – with the likes of allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon in the mix. It’s a delicious marinade for chicken, beef, and pork.

If you can’t get your hands on Scotch bonnets, choose habanero peppers instead. They’re a close cousin that brings the same heat, just not quite the tropical fruitiness. 

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A bowl of spicy tomato soup topped with torn basil, an olive oil drizzle and red pepper flakes, with half a grilled cheese sandwich on a plate behind it

Spicy Tomato Soup

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A rustic, spicy tomato soup with red wine, herbs, cumin and a good dose of red pepper flakes, simmered for an hour and blended as smooth or chunky as you like.

Overhead view of rustic jalapeño mashed potatoes in a speckled white bowl, topped with a melting pat of butter and chopped chives, with a spoon resting in the bowl and a whole jalapeño on an oak table

Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes

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Creamy russet mashed potatoes with blanched jalapeño mashed into a paste and stirred in to taste, so the mild heat is even in every bite.

A stack of homemade spicy oatmeal raisin cookies on a speckled white plate, one broken in half to show the chewy center, beside a glass of milk and two dried red cayenne peppers on a butcher-block counter

Spicy Oatmeal Cookies

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Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, plus a half teaspoon of cayenne for a gentle warmth that builds as you eat. Keep a glass of milk handy.

A speckled white bowl of glossy cranberry sauce flecked with minced jalapeño, a wooden spoon resting in it, next to half a jalapeño on an oak table

Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce

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A sweet-tart cranberry sauce with jalapeño heat and allspice, plus how to set the heat, why it thickens as it cools, what to serve it with, and how long it keeps.

A small white bowl of creamy coleslaw with shredded cabbage and carrot on a gray wooden table

Sriracha Slaw

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A creamy coleslaw with Sriracha heat, plus what each part of the dressing does, how to set the heat, what to serve it with, and how long it keeps.

A white bowl of thinly sliced cucumbers with red pepper flakes and chili paste, next to a small dish of red pepper flakes and sesame seeds on a wooden table

Spicy Cucumber Salad

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A spicy cucumber salad with rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and chili, plus why the cucumbers get salted first, how to set the heat, and what to serve it with.

Two golden cornmeal waffles drizzled with amber maple syrup flecked with ground cayenne, with fresh raspberries, a small glass pitcher of syrup and a dish of cayenne pepper behind.

Spicy Maple Syrup

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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.

Cayenne Pepper Smoothie

Healthy Cayenne Pepper Smoothie

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A flavorful energy booster…

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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Chunky homemade Thai chili sauce with chopped red chilies in a shallow speckled bowl, next to a plate of fried egg rolls with one cut open to show the filling.

Homemade Thai Chili Sauce

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What’s an egg roll, spring roll, or fried wonton to do without a little spicy sauce on the side? The same, of course, could be said about nearly anything in our books, but in this instance a bold Thai chili sauce is well in order. …

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