2,800 red pepper recipes

Note: 15 bean mixtures are available packaged in supermarkets and health food stores. If you prefer, make your own by combining equal amounts of dried blackeyed peas, red kidney beans, white kidney beans (cannellini), green lentils, split peas, black beans, yellow split peas, navy beans, cranberry (Roman, shell, or shell out) beans, great Northern beans, pinto beans, small white limas, red lentils, cow peas (field peas), and pink beans. Avoid using beans such as garbanzos and large lima beans, as these take longer to cook than other varities.

Grilled alligator tail steaks marinated in milk with rosemary, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. A Cajun-style grill recipe that tenderizes this lean, mild meat.

Upgraded ramen noodles stir-fried with cabbage, bell pepper, onion, and diced ham or Spam with red pepper flakes. A budget-friendly, filling dinner that turns instant noodle packets into a real meal.

Brightly colored vegetables soak up a tangy vinegar-oil marinade, softening just enough while keeping their crisp bite. Broccoli, carrots, peppers, and zucchini mingle in this make-ahead salad that gets better as it sits and flavors meld.

Lower-fat 'guacamole' built from puréed green peas, green chiles, garlic, and salsa. A creamy, spicy dip that mimics the avocado original at a fraction of the fat.

Oven-baked eggplant slices coated in seasoned egg whites and crushed corn flakes. Crispy without frying, no oil needed, and just as good cold as hot.

Arugula and red onion salad tosses peppery greens with thin red onion in a sharp red wine vinegar and olive oil dressing. A 5-minute Italian side that pairs with grilled meats or pasta.

One-pot white beans and kale sauteed with garlic, red pepper flakes, and chicken stock. Twenty minutes from start to table. The weeknight side dish that does it all.

Fresh papaya salsa with red chili, mint, lime juice, and red bell pepper. A tropical, no-cook salsa with sweet heat. Pairs with grilled fish, tacos, and chips.

Hunan hot pepper and black bean sauce made with crushed red pepper, fermented black beans, garlic, and sherry. A fiery condiment steamed in a jar that keeps indefinitely in the fridge.

Pasta with bitter broccoli, garlic, and chili flakes: a Southern Italian classic scented with an almost reckless 14 cloves of garlic and a hit of red pepper heat. Weeknight dinner, minimal effort.

Pasta alla carrettiera is a no-cook Italian sauce of raw tomato, garlic, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes pounded into a rough paste with olive oil, then tossed with hot spaghetti. Bright, raw, summer-perfect.

Grilled vegetable kabobs: pre-cooked eggplant, carrots, and potatoes plus raw zucchini, peppers, onions, and mushrooms threaded onto skewers, herb-marinated and grilled low and slow. Vegetarian BBQ win.

Baked rigatoni loaded with shredded roast beef in a quick crushed tomato sauce, topped with bubbly provolone and mozzarella. A meaty pasta bake ready in 40 minutes.

Cajun-style grilled pork chops rubbed with a triple-pepper spice blend of white, red, and black pepper plus onion powder. Just 6 ingredients for bold, smoky flavor.

Peppery arugula wilted in the pasta water and tossed with a quick tomato sauce made with shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes. A bright vegetarian spaghetti dinner in 30 minutes.