The love of spicy food is a controversial subject for people who take flavor seriously. Few things can divide foodies more than spicy condiments like hot sauce and dishes like Nashville hot chicken. In recent years, the spicy foods have been growing in popularity with the growth of hot condiments … [Read more...]

Sauces can wind up being too spicy for a number of reasons including a cook underestimating the heat of chili peppers or one who mistakes one hot pepper for another. Whatever the reason, there are ways to get around excessively hot food without having to throw the dish out and start again from … [Read more...]

Berbere spice is Ethiopian cuisine's fundamental spice mix and comes from the Ethiopian word barbare. Barbare translates to "hot" and comes from the Ancient Ethiopian word for pepper, which is papare. While the true origin of berbere spice is unknown — in the sense that no one is sure who invented … [Read more...]

Gochujang is a Korean condiment that you may be acquainted with if you have ever had Korean barbecue. Its ingredients include red chili pepper, fermented soybean, and glutinous rice. Its name comes from the Korean for chili pepper (gochu) and the Korean for paste (jang). While it is certainly a … [Read more...]

Paprika is known among cooks as much for its bright red color as for its fruity, sometimes smoky flavor. It is versatile enough to be a part of almost any dry rub and is a staple of deviled egg recipes. While you can find it in almost every spice cabinet, there are a few things you should know if … [Read more...]

Creole seasoning is a blend of powdered spices that commonly show up in Creole cuisine. In a Creole kitchen, the cook would add the individual seasonings according to taste instead of using a spice blend. Creole seasoning makes the process easier since you don't have to measure each ingredient out. … [Read more...]

It may come as a surprise (to some) that bell peppers are technically chili peppers. What isn’t a surprise (to most) is bell peppers have no heat. But is that always true? Are bell peppers spicy, ever? Or is it always that zero placeholder on the pepper scale? Well, like many things on the pepper … [Read more...]

Spicy seasonings have been loved all over the world since ancient times. Nowhere is the world's love of fiery flavors easier to see than in the almost global adoption of chili peppers after the Columbian Exchange. You can find spicy blends that feature chili peppers and other hot spices in every … [Read more...]

Sriracha is an iconic hot sauce, not just for its versatile flavor but also because of its packaging. If you are a fan of American hot sauces, you most likely have seen the squeeze bottles with the green tops in the condiment aisles of your local grocery stores. The bottles are a distinctive part of … [Read more...]

Jalapeño peppers are the most popular chilies on the planet. Its very eatable low-medium heat and bright, grassy flavor make the chili very versatile in the kitchen. But, unless you're a gardener with a penchant for spicy food, you may not know that there are many different jalapeño varieties out … [Read more...]