45 chili flake recipes

Store bought chili powder lacks authentic flavor. We like to make our own homemade chili powder which adds a tremendous boost to Chili, Tex-Mex or Mexican recipes.

Spicy sweet and sour cucumber salad: crisp cucumber tossed in a tangy, sweet, and chili-spiked dressing. A quick, refreshing side that gets even better after a chill in the fridge.

Vegan black bean and cashew chili with jalapeño, Anaheim chiles, and a splash of beer. Cashews lend hearty body to this meatless chili. Top with avocado, cilantro, and crisp tortilla chips.

Homemade spicy seasoning mix with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, and red pepper flakes. A DIY taco-style blend with no salt or fillers added.

Spanish-style stuffed mushroom caps filled with cured ham, garlic, parsley, chili pepper, and olive oil. A simple tapas appetizer baked in just 15 minutes.

Spicy red chili sourdough biscuits with cheddar cheese, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and dried chilies. A tangy, fiery twist on classic drop biscuits.

You'll be seeing red with this delicious dish made with hot chili peppers and a pinch of paprika.

Authentic Texas-style chili with cubed round steak, jalapeno, garlic, and whole tomatoes. No beans, no filler, just beef and heat simmered in under an hour.

Low in fat, butternut squash contains significant amounts of dietary fiber, making it an exceptionally heart-friendly choice. It also contains potassium, important for bone health, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. Importantly, the squash is very rich in beta-carotene (which your body automatically converts to vitamin A), which has been shown to protect against breast cancer and age-related macular degeneration, among other health benefits. If that was not enough, a single cup serving provides nearly 50% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C.

Beau's notes: * There are no "jalapeno beans;" there are jalapeno peppers and pinto beans. I have two recipes, both of which are quite tref, but a Catholic should worry? But if you are hosting a Jewish person, smoked turkey will substitute most agreeably for the chazer called for in either recipe.]

Enchilada torte stacks flour tortillas, spiced ground beef and cheddar into a layered casserole, cooked entirely in the microwave in about 25 minutes. All the enchilada flavor with no rolling and no oven.

A favourite served at Din Tai Fung gets a healthy make-over. Water spinach, commonly known as kangkong, is rich in fibre, magnesium, vitamins A and C and is very low in calories. Word of caution: do not eat it raw as it may carry parasitic cysts from the waterways that are its natural habitat.

A trail-worthy chili made from beef jerky, chili powder, cumin seeds, and oregano simmered low and slow until the jerky rehydrates and turns tender. No fresh meat or refrigeration needed.

Authentic Spanish-American chili con carne made with cubed beef, beef suet, and whole dried red chile peppers reconstituted and pulped into a smoky, deeply flavored bowl of red. A traditional no-bean chili built on real chiles, not powder.

Homemade shake and bake coating mix with flour, crushed bran flakes, cayenne, curry powder, chili powder, and herbs. Make a big batch and store in the freezer.

Homemade Cajun chicken nuggets coated in onion soup mix, breadcrumbs, chili powder, cumin, and thyme. Pan-fried or microwaved. Makes about 5 dozen bite-sized pieces for a crowd.