Hot and Spicy Recipes

Kefallinian meat pie layers spiced lamb, rice, feta, and potatoes between buttery phyllo sheets with hints of cinnamon, orange zest, and fresh mint. A Greek island classic from Kefalonia.

New Mexico style spicy green chili braises pork shoulder and bones with tomatoes, tomato sauce, green chili strips, and hot peppers. Use to smother enchiladas or eat by the bowlful.

Homemade buffalo wing sauce: hot sauce melted with butter, vinegar, and layered spices into a tangy, buttery, properly hot glaze for wings. Make-ahead and ready in minutes.

Beer and Parmesan omelettes with a kick of Tabasco, ready in 10 minutes flat. The secret to the lightest, fluffiest eggs? A splash of suds in the batter.

Egg white-battered chicken chunks fried crisp in peanut oil, tossed with roasted peanuts in a spicy sauce of garlic, ginger, dark soy, sesame oil, and red vinegar. Sichuan-inspired heat at home.

Crispy chicken chunks coated in water chestnut flour, deep-fried golden, then tossed with roasted peanuts in a spicy sauce of chili paste, dark soy, sesame oil, and Chinese red vinegar. Restaurant-quality kung pao at home.

Colombo de giraumon: a Caribbean curried pumpkin stew with tomatoes, sultanas, cloves, and red chili. A fragrant vegetarian side dish from the French Antilles that pairs with rice and grilled meats.

Korean-style hot and spicy short ribs marinated 24 hours in soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, mirin, and toasted sesame seeds. Scored to the bone for maximum flavor, then oven-roasted until caramelized.

Use as a dip or topping for grilled chicken, seafood, etc., inspired by Diana Rattray

Pasta rings tossed in cool, spiced cucumber raita with mint, cumin, and lemon. A summer pasta salad with Indian roots: tangy yogurt, crunchy cucumber, and warm cumin against tender anellini pasta.

Crispy spiced fritters dripped through a slotted spoon into hot oil, made with chickpea flour, buttermilk, sambal, and a hand-ground spice blend of coriander, mustard, and cinnamon.

Sea scallops simmered in a spicy fresh tomato sauce with red wine, garlic, and basil, tossed with fettuccine and finished with grated Parmesan.

A homemade Boursin-style cheese dip made by creaming butter and cream cheese with garlic, Italian seasoning and minced walnuts. Silky, garlicky and ready in 15 minutes with no cooking.

Spiced applesauce bread with cinnamon, cloves, plumped raisins, and walnuts. A moist quick bread loaf baked with real applesauce for tender crumb.

Spicy applesauce brownies with unsweetened chocolate, cinnamon, and walnuts, topped with a cinnamon-powdered sugar drizzle. Fudgy, fruity, and warmly spiced.

Spicy baby back ribs with a Chinese-style marinade of fermented black beans, ginger, garlic, soy, fish sauce, and chopped orange. Marinated overnight, grilled low and slow, basted constantly.