Smoky eggplant salad mashed with tomatoes, cayenne pepper, and olive oil, served chilled as a dip or spread. A simple vegetarian appetizer with a spicy kick.
Orange appetizers layered with thin red onion, parsley, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil. A fresh, no-cook Moroccan-inspired citrus salad starter.
Cajun crawfish egg salad with Durkee's sauce, Dijon mustard, and a kick of cayenne. A Louisiana twist on classic egg salad that's loaded with tender crawfish tails.
Esquire's Eastern Establishment chili with whole brisket, two types of chile, and a surprising splash of coffee. A refined East Coast take on Texas chili with masa harina thickening and deep beef flavor.
Greek-style charoset with whole orange, dates, raisins, cherry preserves, sweet wine, and pine nuts. A Sephardic Passover recipe with warm spice and fruit.
Indian mayonnaise dressing with curry powder, fresh ginger, mango chutney, and cayenne blended smooth. A creamy, spiced condiment for salads, wraps, or grilled meats.
Roasted red pepper mustard blends fire-charred bell peppers with mustard seeds, sherry, red wine, and honey. A complex artisan condiment for sandwiches, charcuterie boards, and grilled meats.
Sweet and fiery banana chutney with Granny Smith apples, raisins, cayenne, ginger, and apple cider vinegar, baked until thick and jammy. Makes 4 cups of bold condiment for canning.
Yogurt-marinated chicken breasts rubbed with toasted coriander, cumin, ginger, and cayenne, then broiled until charred and tender. Served on crisp julienned radishes with fresh scallions and lime.
Lighter egg noodle casserole with cottage cheese, yogurt, mushrooms and sharp cheddar. Creamy homemade sauce with worcestershire and cayenne bakes into comfort food that won't weigh you down.
Six pounds of cubed beef browned in suet, simmered in beef stock with a full cup of chili powder and crushed cumin seeds, thickened with masa harina. No tomatoes. No beans. This is Texas Red in its purest form.
Oyster and plantation soup builds a Caribbean-Creole bisque from ripe plantains, onions, coconut milk, and cream spiked with cayenne, basil, and tarragon, then poaches fresh oysters in their own liquor. A briny-sweet seafood soup with island roots.
Palak tofu-paneer combines crispy soy-marinated tofu with simmered spinach and fresh tomatoes, finished with a fragrant chaunce of toasted Indian spices and ghee.
Cheese pasties, hand-held British turnovers stuffed with sharp cheddar and diced root vegetables (turnip, carrot, leek, celery) in a flaky butter shortcrust, warmed with mace and cayenne. Crimped, baked golden, and even better the next day.
Chana dal with turmeric, mustard seeds, green chilies, and a tarka of fried onion and garlic. A traditional Indian split chickpea dish that's vegan, protein-rich, and deeply spiced.
Homestyle lasagna rolls turn a meaty mushroom-and-beef filling, spiked with red wine and nutmeg, into tidy individual rolls baked in spaghetti sauce under melty mozzarella and parmesan. No messy slicing.
North Carolina barbecue with chopped pork shoulder in a tangy vinegar and cayenne mopping sauce. Traditional Eastern-style chopped 'cue, slow-roasted and served with slaw.
Low-fat asparagus guacamole made with pureed cooked asparagus and yogurt instead of avocado. Same guacamole seasonings - cumin, cayenne, garlic, tomato - a fraction of the fat.
Szechuan chicken in sesame paste with toasted peppercorns, green tea, ginger, and red pepper flakes, served cold in lettuce wraps. A spicy, make-ahead Chinese appetizer.
Asparagus shrimp salad with herb dressing marinates plump shrimp and crisp-tender spears in a vinaigrette sharp with basil, oregano, and chervil. Cool, make-ahead salad served over lettuce with diced tomato and Monterey Jack.
These crispy pan-fried crabcakes get their crunch from a golden cornmeal crust while minced cornichons and jalapeño add bright, briny heat. Fresh lump crab stays the star with minimal filler.
Chickpea and green bean salad with two separate garam masala dressings, garlic, cayenne, and fresh ginger. A spiced bean salad served cold or at room temperature.
Add a South American twist to your barbecue by using this spicy marinade.
Five-spice-rubbed roast beef served with a homemade spiced blackberry ketchup, sweet, tart, and gently fiery with cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. An elegant roast with a surprising fruit condiment.
Slow cooker salsa chicken with Brussels sprouts, Ro-Tel tomatoes, jalapeno, and cayenne pepper. Set it and forget it for 7 hours on low for a spicy, hands-off dinner.
Great asian style pasta, nice side dish, very healthy.
Crab cakes bound with a silky béchamel and sharpened with dijon, horseradish, and capers, then pan-fried in a crisp breadcrumb crust until deep golden brown.
Dilli ka saag gosht is a North Indian lamb and spinach curry with whole spices, yogurt, and garam masala. Slow-simmered cubed lamb in a thick, vibrant green spinach sauce.
Indian gravy: a make-ahead curry base of onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, and garam masala bloomed in ghee, then simmered with tomatoes and yogurt. The foundation for endless curries.
Bharwan bhindi, Indian stuffed okra pods packed with toasted coriander, cumin, fennel, garam masala, and ground almonds. Pan-fried in ghee for a spicy, crisp-tender side.
Slow-simmered brisket chili with dried kidney beans, three kinds of chile peppers, masa harina, and brewed coffee. Bold, beefy, and deeply spiced.
Cajun barbecue sauce with bacon, pecans, honey, and citrus blended smooth. A spicy-sweet sauce with three peppers, orange rind, and Tabasco for chicken, pork, or ribs.
Blue crab cakes bound with ground water crackers and sauteed golden in butter, served with a homemade cayenne mayonnaise made with roasted red pepper, anchovies, and capers.
Barbecued tempeh baked in a homemade molasses-mustard sauce with cumin, coriander, and cayenne. A hearty vegetarian main served over rice or stuffed in pita.
Veal chops in spicy sauce: braised with cumin, saffron, coriander, and cayenne, then finished with a cool cucumber-yogurt spoon sauce. Warm spice meets bright tang in one Dutch oven.
Mesquite-smoked beef brisket on a gas grill rotisserie, rubbed with paprika and cayenne, then basted for hours in a beer-spiked barbecue sauce. Slice it thin and watch it fall apart on the cutting board.
Tandoori duck marinated in spiced yogurt with cumin, cardamom, and cayenne, then grilled and served over red lentils. Skinned for less fat, the yogurt marinade keeps the meat juicy and tender.
Baked cheddar cheese balls with crispy rice cereal, butter, cayenne, and hot sauce. Dime-sized, crispy appetizer bites that bake in under 10 minutes and store indefinitely.
Garlic shrimp linguine with rosemary, oregano, and a touch of cayenne. Eight cloves of garlic, lemon-spiked olive oil, fresh spinach and tomato, finished with parmesan.
Gourmet pasta salad with garlic-parsley spaghetti, artichoke hearts, capers, diced tomatoes, and scallions in a spicy olive oil-mustard dressing. Vegetarian and ready in 25 minutes.
Pork spareribs marinated overnight in pineapple juice, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar, then steamed and grilled with a homemade citrus BBQ sauce. A three-step process for fall-off-the-bone ribs.
Cajun seafood gumbo with shrimp, lump crab, ham, and okra built on a dark cocoa-colored roux. Finished with file powder for authentic Louisiana flavor and body.
Curried vegetable stew with chickpeas, potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, and peas in a tomato-spiced broth. A vegan one-pot curry with ginger, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon served over rice.
Cajun corn chowder with Mexicorn, frozen corn, skim milk, and chicken broth seasoned with cayenne, paprika, and celery seed. A spiced creamy corn soup that improves with resting.
These scrumptious salmon rolls can be served plain or can accompany any meal you prepare for dinner.
Cajun skillet beans with black-eyed peas, the holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, plus tomatoes, thyme, and a pinch of cayenne. A quick, hearty vegetarian Cajun side.
Crab marinara with a pound of crab meat simmered in a from-scratch tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes, oregano, basil, and a kick of cayenne. Served over spaghetti or rice.
Crusty Pennsylvania Dutch scrapple from scratch: pork ribs and liver simmered with sage, thyme, and cayenne, then bound with coarse cornmeal, set in pans, sliced and pan-fried for breakfast.