540 hot red pepper recipes

Spaghettini alla carrettiera with a spicy tomato-vodka cream sauce made from fresh tomatoes, garlic, dried chili, and heavy cream. A fiery Italian pasta that's silky smooth.

Low fat yogurt onion dip blends plain yogurt with grated onion, lemon juice, parsley, horseradish, and a dash of hot sauce. A lighter alternative to sour cream onion dip with the same satisfying tang.

Ground beef and spinach scramble with eggs, Tabasco, and Parmesan, inspired by San Francisco's old-school Italian diners. A hearty one-skillet breakfast or dinner.

Smooth blended avocado salsa with cilantro, hot sauce, and a splash of soy sauce for umami depth. A vegan, versatile sauce that works as a dip, drizzle, or topping in 10 minutes.

Quick pork fajitas marinated in orange juice, vinegar, cumin, and oregano then stir-fried with peppers and onions. From fridge to table in 25 minutes flat.

Curried corn salad with red bell pepper, cucumber, scallions, and spinach in a tangy curry-mustard vinaigrette. A no-cook, low-fat side dish ready in ten minutes.

Lamb, lentil, and rosemary soup made from leftover roast lamb stock and bones, simmered with carrots, tomatoes, and earthy lentils. The Mediterranean way to stretch a Sunday roast into Monday's dinner.

The sauce here is no kin whatsoever to the ketchupy stuff that too often swamps cold seafood; it's a good bet with cold shrimp or crabmeat, too.

Fiesta onion dip with Vidalia onions, black olives, green chilies, and fresh tomato dressed in olive oil and vinegar. A fresh, no-cook party dip.

A zesty homemade salad dressing with olive oil, two types of vinegar, Romano cheese, garlic, and a kick of hot sauce. Mixes up in 5 minutes flat and gets better as it chills.

Crawfish Rixie sautees a pound of tails in butter, then bathes them in a double-reduced fish stock and cream sauce with a dash of Tabasco. Elegant Cajun simplicity on toast points.

No-cook cucumber avocado salad with lime, chili pepper, and red bell pepper. Paper-thin cucumber slices with creamy avocado and a spicy citrus kick.

Root beer baked beans with bacon, barbecue sauce, dry mustard, and hot sauce simmered together on the stovetop. A sweet, smoky, slightly spicy side dish ready in 40 minutes.

Chilled stuffed mushroom caps marinated in red wine vinaigrette and filled with chopped chicken, spinach, and a tangy mayo-onion mixture. A no-bake party appetizer that comes together in about 20 minutes of active work.

New Orleans-style spinach and crabmeat casserole with shrimp, artichoke hearts, sour cream, Parmesan, Tabasco, and Worcestershire. Rich Cajun-Creole comfort food.