If we made a list of things we’re generally into, it would read something like this: DIY projects, tech gadgets, spicy food, regular food. End of list. In that spirit, we’ve curated a chili-centric recipe roundup that will satisfy your appetite and ruin your stomach lining in a single fiery bite. This post is gonna get real hot — and blowing on it’s not gonna help.
1. Harissa: Harissa is an unsung hero of condiments. It’s North African in origin, and its slow, deep burn is perfect for topping just about anything. This recipe calls for liberal ancho and guajillo chiles with plenty of fresh herbs and spices and a splash of champagne vinegar. (via Relishing It)
3. Spicy Beer Candied Bacon: Some say the bacon train has left the station, but it’s the trendy food we just don’t want to go away… because it’s bacon. This version is candied with brown sugar, dark beer and Frank’s hot sauce. Just imagine it on top of a pepper-infused Bloody Mary. GUH. (via Bite By Michelle)
4. Goan Shrimp Vindaloo: One curry to rule them all, the vindaloo-style hails from Goa and is affectionately known as the hottest curry out there. There’s naan like it. (via Worthy Pause)
5. Steak Sandwich with Spicy Horseradish Mayo: A sandwich that’ll do more than just temper your rumbling tummy. This horseradish sauce will go straight to the sinuses. (via Fine Cooking)
6. West African Peanut Soup: We’re continuing the global tour with this vegan soup that’s both peanutty and picante. It’ll be simmered and on the table in less than an hour. (via Cookie and Katie)
7. Poblano Corn Chowder: Soup’s on again! Crumble some queso fresco on top and prepare for a creamy, roasty delight with a bit of wholesome heat from the poblano peppers. (via Brittany Powell)
8. Mango Pickle: Indian pickles combine savory masalas with all the things we know and love about regular pickles, making them anything but regular. This turmeric-fennel-and-mustard-seed-laced mango pickle is best eaten at a time when there is no chance of you making out with another human being for at least 24 hours. (via Frugal Feeding)
9. Homemade Ghost Chile Hot Sauce: No joke, this is the hottest chile there ever was. Gloves are required before you mess around with a ghost chile… and a face mask… and a stomach lined with lead. (via Jeanette’s Healthy Living)
10. Kimchi Fried Rice: If you haven’t tried kimchi yet, get on that immediately. This pungent spicy ‘kraut-like relish is packed with probiotics and it tastes friggin’ incredible. This most excellent hot date with a Korean plate can be thrown together in just a few minutes with leftover rice and a fried egg. (via Food52)
11. Habanero Ginger Jelly: Slather this stuff inside your next sharp cheddar grilled cheese sandwich. YOU’RE WELCOME. (via Simply So Good)
12. Thai Coconut Curry Hummus: If you’re the friend that always brings a tub of hummus to every dinner party like a jerk, at least put some effort into it next time. Serve this spicy dip with cool cucumber sticks to balance out the South Asian curry. (via FitSugar)
14. Baked Jalapeño Poppers: Sometimes, jalapeño poppers aren’t quite as spicy as they sound. Heat ’em up by adding the aforementioned habanero jelly to the filling. (via Recipe Girl)
15. Homemade Giardiniera: Hoagies, subs, big sandwiches… whatever you wanna call them, they deserve a tangy hot pickle inside them. (via Live Love Pasta)
16. Chile Lime Peanuts: Zestfully limey with a zing of arbol chiles, these are like bar peanuts, except you actually eat them because they taste good — not just because they are sitting within arm’s reach next to your Zima. (via Chow)
17. Sriracha and Wasabi Deviled Eggs: Need an impressive appetizer to warm up your next party? Just add sake, wasabi and Sriracha to an American classic. These eggs are hellishly hot. (via Food and Wine)
Tell us why your tongue is burning in the comments below!
Annie D'Souza
Annie is the founding father and editor-in-chief of The Midwestival and a long-time jean-on-jean enthusiast.
FAQs
Myth Debunked: Spicy Food Doesn't Really Kill Taste Buds.
What can neutralize spicy food? ›
Balancing it with an acid can help neutralize the molecule's activity. This means drinking or eating something acidic — such as lemonade, limeade, orange juice or a tomato-based food item or drink — may also help cool your mouth down. (Milk is also acidic, by the way.) DO down some carbs.
How do taste buds react to spicy food? ›
Hot Sauce, Spicy Foods, and Your Taste Buds
When we eat food with capsaicin, it binds to the receptors on our taste buds that are responsible for detecting heat, known as TRPV1 receptors. This creates a sensation of heat, which can range from mild to extremely intense, depending on the concentration of capsaicin.
Why does spiciness make food taste better? ›
Capsaicin fits into a temperature receptor on the tongue called TRPV1. Normally, TRPV1 is set off by temperatures around 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) and higher. But when we eat something spicy with capsaicin, the molecule binds to the receptors and lowers their activation energy.
Can you actually build spice tolerance? ›
“People can try to desensitise themselves to the burning sensations caused by spicy food by slowly and gradually introducing spicy foods into their diet over a period of time,” says Yang. “This repeated exposure could increase tolerance slowly and people will start to enjoy hot food.”
Can spicy damage your mouth? ›
Spicy foods can make you wonder whether the heat in them burning and melting your mouth will also affect your teeth and gums. Thankfully the capsaicin making the foods spicy is not harmful to your teeth. In reality, capsaicin in hot peppers is beneficial as a pain reliever.
What cancels out spicy taste? ›
The next time your dish tastes too spicy, try adding lemon, lime or orange juice, or any style of vinegar that suits the dish and your taste preferences. Remember, a little goes a long way, so taste as you go (it's always easier to add more than to backtrack after adding too much).
What happens if you eat spicy food every day? ›
Therefore, you should eat spicy 2-3 times / week and eat with intermittent frequency. Eating too much spicy causes heat in the body Using a lot of chili with a regular frequency along with a high degree of spicy can cause mouth ulcers or boils, burning in the anus as well as other organs..
How to cool down your mouth? ›
A sip of cold milk or a spoon of yogurt will soothe your mouth and take away some of the burning sensation. A protein called casein present in dairy helps to break up the capsaicin and offer some relief from its effects. Milk is your go-to beverage to quiet the flames of spicy foods.
Do taste buds grow back? ›
Taste buds are cells on your tongue that allow you to perceive tastes, including sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. Taste buds regenerate approximately every 10 days, which means injured taste buds usually repair on their own.
Human taste can be distilled down to the basic 5 taste qualities of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami or savory. Although the sense of taste has been viewed as a nutritional quality control mechanism, the human experience of ingesting food is the interaction of all 5 senses.
What happens to tongue after eating spicy food? ›
A burning sensation spreads across the lips and ignites the tongue. Mucous membranes, which protect the lungs from harmful inhalables, go into overdrive, making the nose run. A surge of blood travels through dilated vessels and body temperature shoots up, triggering a full on sweat meant to evaporate the heat away.
Why do I feel high after eating spicy food? ›
This compound centers around the tongue, causing an intense burning sensation. Throughout all the pain associated with spicy foods, the consumption of these foods releases endorphins and dopamine. This creates euphoria similar to a “runners high.”
What do you call a person who loves spicy food? ›
So you could say something like a “hot chiliphile”, although that's a bit more specific than what was asked.
Is spicy a taste or pain? ›
By the way: The sensation “spicy” is very often described as a taste. Strictly speaking, though, it is only a pain signal sent by nerves that pass on information about temperature and touch. Foods that are seasoned with chili powder activate “pain and heat” signals.
How do you know if you burned off your taste buds? ›
When the tongue is burned the taste buds become swollen and traumatized. This can disrupt the ability of the microvilli to accurately detect what it is tasting or sensing. That is why when the tongue is burned, food and drink may taste different until it has healed.
How long does it take for your tongue to stop burning from spicy food? ›
The burn from capsaicin generally dissipates in about 15 minutes, according to McGee. Serena Ball, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, food writer and recipe developer. She blogs at TeaspoonOfSpice.com and is the author of the best-selling The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook.
Can spicy food cause inflamed taste buds? ›
A swollen taste bud can result from burning your tongue, eating spicy foods or having conditions like allergies or dry mouth. Even stress can cause it. Swollen taste buds aren't serious and usually heal on their own in just a few days.
