Is your favorite part of the day the meal you’ll make at night but missing that je ne sais quoi is driving you up a wall? Some heat might very well be the thing you are looking for. It’s more versatile than you’d expect and has its place no matter the type of cuisine you are craving. If this is a new avenue for you, here’s some surefire ways to bring the heat.
Crushed Red Pepper
You probably know this best from its place among the shakers in your favorite pizza joint, but it might be time to stop only enjoying it there. The secret combination is a mixture or various red peppers that would be sure to add a little kick to your next meal all without dipping too far into the unfamiliar.
Pepper Jelly
You might be used to saving your pepper jelly for cheese and crackers but there’s no need for it to end there. This treat is perfect for meats, poultry, fish, you name it. It’ll add the perfect kick you are craving along with a few other flavors you didn’t realize you needed. Depending on what you are making, cranberry pepper jelly might be what you want or mango habanero might be the perfect way to reinvent your kitchen staples.
If you somehow don’t have any on hand and aren’t sure where to buy pepper jelly, don’t forget the internet is your best friend in finding exactly what you need. Sure, there’s always what’s in the stores, but don’t settle if it’s not exactly what you want. At least, make sure you do a little research on the net; you’d be surprised how many varieties of pepper jelly are out there for the taking.
Sriracha
It might look like it, but don’t think this is in any way ketchup. Thankfully, as the years have gone by, it’s become just as common in some places. Like it’s similarly colored, albeit more traditional friend, ketchup, people put it on just about anything.
Inside the bottle, you’ll find the perfect mixture of jalapeno and serrano peppers, garlic, brown sugar, salt and vinegar so it’s easy to imagine all the possibilities when looking to add this to your kitchen.
There’s plenty of copycats out there, so if you are looking for the original, make sure you grab the bottle with the rooster front and center.
Fresh Peppers
These are perfect if you are hesitant about adding heat to your next meal. Given it’s not a spice you’re adding, but actual peppers you might need to base the dish around this a little more than you would otherwise.
The reason it’s such a great choice for those starting their spice journey lies in the seeds. Taking those first steps, take all the seeds out and you’ll have a more mild experience. If you do that and it actually ends up more mild than you were thinking, keep some in. Feeling adventurous? Leave as many as possible and enjoy the ride.
Garam Masala
A great choice if you aren’t sure how to dress meat or tofu the next time you are preparing either. Don’t think it’s only useful on either of those; it is a key spice when making the wonderful dish that is butter chicken.
This blend is often the basis of many Indian dishes and the name literally means “hot spices;” learning that is sure to excite some and give pause to others but don’t have fear when it comes to adding some heat into your staple dishes.
