Crispy cheddar cheese crackers with a chili kick, topped with sesame and poppy seeds. These spicy, buttery bite-sized triangles store for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
A chunky Mediterranean spread blending feta and cream cheese with garlic, oregano, green olives, yogurt, and a kick of cayenne. Serve with pita, crackers, or crusty bread.
Cheese diablo wafers are four-ingredient sharp cheddar bites kicked up with cayenne. Crisp, fiery party crackers that bake in just 6 minutes.
Creamy peanut butter and yogurt dip spiked with cayenne and coriander. No cooking required. Pair with fresh fruit, seafood, crackers, or vegetables for a bold snack.
A zesty curry-lime dip with Dijon mustard, garlic, and a kick of cayenne. Whips up in 10 minutes and pairs with veggies, chips, or grilled chicken.
Traditional Scottish haggis made from scratch: sheep heart, liver, and lungs ground with beef suet, onion, oatmeal, and warm spice, then stuffed into a stomach casing and gently boiled. The genuine Burns Night centerpiece.
Classic French fish soup built on roasted bones, lobster shells, and aromatic vegetables simmered with white wine, saffron, and Pernod. Served with garlicky rouille, melted Gruyere, and crusty baguette croutons.
All-purpose camping seasoning mix with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and black pepper. Mix in 5 minutes, toss in your pack, and season everything from fish to eggs.
Macaroni and cheese souffle bakes corkscrew pasta in a smoky paprika-cayenne cheese sauce enriched with beaten egg yolks for a lighter, puffier version of the comfort classic. A weeknight casserole with soufflé ambitions.
No country of origin, but I'm betting on Vietnam this time, mainly from the dip.
Japanese braised eggplant stuffed with tempeh, mushrooms, and bell pepper in a sherry-soy-molasses sauce. A hearty vegetarian main served over brown rice.
Smoky andouille bathed in tangy barbecue sauce spiked with Southern Comfort, slow-simmered for hours until thick and rich for the ultimate party appetizer.
Fall-off-the-bone ribs slow-cooked with a tangy barbecue sauce that practically tends itself. Set it and forget it method delivers tender, flavorful ribs while you relax, perfect for lazy weekend cookouts.
Louisiana-style deviled crab baked in individual shells with a creamy white sauce, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and buttery breadcrumb topping. A Creole classic ready in 40 minutes.
Pressure-cooked beef roast shredded into a rich tomato-clam broth with mushrooms, onions, and garlic creates an unexpected fusion goulash with Hungarian-seafood soul.
This rich flavoursome dish originates in the fertile Punjab, a state now divided between India and Pakistan. There is nothing more important to a Punjabi man's diet than bread, and meals are accompanied by flat round cornbread rotis or rich, flaky pan-fried paratha layered with ghee (clarified butter). Rice is reserved for special occasions or for rice pudding, for the only food that makes a Punjabi feel he has eaten a proper meal is his bread! You of course, can serve this dish with plain boiled rice.
This simple and scrumptious dish is a great way to start conversation with your family at the dinner table.
A quick Cajun red beans and rice with canned kidney beans, chopped sausage, Creole seasoning, and Louisiana hot sauce. Thick, spicy, and on the table in 30 minutes for a weeknight taste of New Orleans.
Spicy beef carbonade braises sirloin or stewing beef in red wine and beef stock with bacon, garlic, chili powder and a hit of habanero. A Belgian-meets-Tex-Mex riff on the classic carbonade flamande.
Pakistani chicken marinated in spiced yogurt with cumin, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, and paprika, then grilled or broiled. Deeply seasoned from slits cut into the meat that let the marinade penetrate.
A savory and hearty dish made with succulent shrimp, juicy tomatoes and okra.
Golden zucchini balti with yellow squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, and turmeric stir-fried in a karahi with balti sauce. A vibrant vegetarian Indian curry ready in 30 minutes.
This is my best soup for a cold winter day, hearty and delicious. Actually it's great anytime of year.
Bombay-style chicken curry simmered in a velvety cream sauce with freshly ground cumin, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Yogurt and tomatoes build layers of tangy, aromatic warmth.
Vegan penne pasta with fresh Roma tomatoes, snow peas, mushrooms, and a hit of tamari and cayenne. A veggie-loaded weeknight dinner ready in 35 minutes.
A loaded SPAM quiche with four cheeses (Monterey Jack, cheddar, mozzarella, ricotta), sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, and artichoke in a crushed cracker crust. This crustless-pastry quiche is brunch royalty.
Grilled chicken breasts with a curried peach and Vidalia onion relish spiked with cayenne, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Make the relish up to 5 days ahead.
Fennel and carrots cooked slowly in an seasoned olive oil.
Vegetarian black bean tart in a crispy olive oil cornmeal crust with cumin-spiced tofu filling and roasted garlic. A savory, rustic showstopper for dinner or brunch.
Open-faced crab sandwiches on English muffins piled with sauteed peppers, lump crab, Dijon mustard, and chopped egg, topped with Parmesan and broiled golden. Ready in 20 minutes.
Mulligatawny chicken soup with curry, lentils, apple cider, potatoes, and yogurt stirred in at the end. A hearty one-pot Indian-inspired meal.
Granny's slow cooker chili browns four pounds of ground beef with kidney beans, tomatoes, and a spice blend of chili powder, paprika, cumin, and cayenne. Crowd-feeding crockpot classic.
Creamy crab Romanoff casserole with rice, sour cream, cottage cheese, and mushrooms baked under a bubbly cheese and paprika crust. Cozy comfort in 30 minutes.
Spicy roasted almonds glazed with sherry, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and Angostura bitters, then tossed with cumin, chili powder, and cayenne. An addictive cocktail party snack.
Prune Armagnac gingerbread is a deeply spiced holiday cake loaded with brandy-soaked prunes, three forms of ginger, molasses, and a coffee kick. Served with crème fraîche.
Rich cheese soup loaded with sharp aged cheddar, tender vegetables, and optional ham. Creamy Wisconsin-style soup with carrots, celery, mushrooms, and spicy kick.
Naturally very low in fat, prawns also contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and are a good source of protein. The spices used in the curry are powerful anti-virals, anti-bacterials and anti-inflammatories.
Homemade cayenne-spiked biscuit bowls cradling hearty ground beef chili loaded with kidney beans and stewed tomatoes. Pile on sharp cheddar, sour cream, and scallions for the ultimate cozy one-bowl dinner.
Hearty ground beef and spaghetti casserole loaded with red beans, fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, and cilantro, baked bubbly with melted cheese on top. Feeds a crowd in about an hour.
Boldly spiced vegan chickpeas simmered with roasted cumin, garam masala, amchoor, and fresh ginger. Ready in 35 minutes and even better the next day.
Ham and Swiss cheese quiche cooked in the microwave with eggs, half-and-half, and a touch of nutmeg. Quick weeknight quiche ready in 27 minutes.
A fiery roux-based Cajun sauce built on the holy trinity, triple pepper heat, and jalapeños simmered in beef stock. Ladle it over roast beef, steaks, or smothered dishes.
Classic lobster Newburg with cream, egg yolks, butter, and a hit of cayenne and mace. Optional sherry rounds out the rich, old-school seafood favorite.
French onion soup with golden caramelized onions simmered in sauterne wine and pareve bouillon, served with toast rounds and grated Swiss cheese on top.
Apple cheddar soup with curry, ginger, and dry mustard pureed silky smooth and topped with sharp cheddar. A warming autumn soup that balances sweet apples with spicy, nippy heat.
Rutabaga puree with sweet potato, a pinch of cayenne, and nutmeg. A creamy, low-fat side dish that rivals mashed potatoes without the guilt.
Seattle scrapple swaps the traditional pork for ground chicken in a sage-and-thyme cornmeal loaf. A Pacific Northwest take on the Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast classic, sliced and pan-fried.
Bite-sized phyllo crackers filled with spinach, goat cheese, shallots, and nutmeg, shaped like Christmas crackers and baked golden. A festive holiday appetizer you can make ahead.