325 red hot recipes

A chilled, crunchy gazpacho-style soup packed with black beans, corn, jicama, peppers, cucumber, and zucchini in tangy tomato juice. Low-fat, vegetarian, and loaded with fresh vegetables.

Cajun-style barbecue sauce simmered low with onions, sweet red bell peppers, white wine, honey, and a hint of dried mint. A from-scratch sauce with serious depth and Louisiana character.

Quick and easy grouper (fish) with a horseradish sauce.

Spicy black-eyed peas simmered with cumin, chili powder, dry mustard, canned tomatoes, and Tabasco. A quick Southern side dish served over rice or with grits.

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Slow-simmered pork burrito filling with cubed pork, jalapeno, bell peppers, cumin, oregano, and green chiles. Browned and braised until fork-tender for stuffing into warm tortillas.

Smoky andouille sausage simmered with tender potatoes, onions, and bell peppers in white wine and bacon drippings for Cajun comfort in one pot.

Curried cucumber and tomato soup, a chilled summer puree of garden produce blended with curry powder, garlic, and hot sauce. No-cook, vegan, and ready after a quick chill.

Chez Melange gazpacho is a chilled tomato and tri-color pepper soup brightened with cucumber, dill, cilantro and a touch of beef stock for savory depth. No-cook summer starter.

Sausage-stuffed mushrooms: caps filled with hot Italian sausage seasoned with fennel and red pepper, bound with a creamy bechamel, studded with olives and topped with Parmesan, then baked until bubbling and browned. A standout party appetizer.

Missouri style ribs with a bold dry rub of cumin, chili powder, and paprika, oven-baked low and slow then finished on the grill with a tangy vinegar basting sauce.

Herb-seasoned turkey burgers with tarragon and white wine, grilled and served with a homemade barbecue sauce of tomatoes, mushrooms, green pepper, garlic, and Tabasco. Makes 12 burgers for a crowd-ready cookout.

A tangy, jewel-toned tomato aspic loaded with crunchy celery, green peppers, and green beans. This vintage molded salad brings old-school Southern charm to any potluck or holiday spread.

Honey barbecue chicken breasts oven-baked in a homemade tomato-honey sauce with cider vinegar, Worcestershire, and paprika. A no-grill weeknight BBQ supper.

Louisiana-style baked beans dressed up with sauteed onion, green pepper, ham, honey and brown sugar, with a Worcestershire-and-hot-sauce kick. A 30-minute Creole spin on canned pork and beans.

Vegan navy bean soup with balsamic-caramelized onions, miso paste, tomato sauce, and warming spices. Oil-free, long-simmered for deep flavor, serves 8. Worth every minute of the 4-hour cook.