791 hot pepper recipes

A good spring dinner selection, light and healthy.

A Louisiana classic: creamy spinach in a spicy jalapeno cheese sauce with Worcestershire, hot sauce, and celery salt. Spinach Madeleine is the Cajun side dish that steals the show at every gathering.

Indonesian rujak fruit salad tosses cucumber, jicama, mango, papaya, pineapple, and Granny Smith apple in a chunky peanut, chile, palm sugar, and tamarind sauce. Sweet, sour, salty, fiery in one bite.

Steamed clams in a coconut green curry sauce with lemongrass, garlic, basil, and white wine. A Hawaiian-Thai fusion seafood dish that's aromatic, creamy, and ready in 40 minutes.

A South African-style spiced mince filling for samoosas: beef or mutton braised dry with jeera, ginger, garlic, turmeric, fresh coriander and mint. The keep-it-dry method that stops samoosas from going soggy.

Boiled shrimp marinated overnight in a fiery herb oil with hot sauce, Old Bay, garlic, basil, oregano, and thyme. A bold, zesty appetizer that feeds a crowd. Makes 25.

Pounded chicken breasts marinated in hot sauce and butter, stuffed with crumbled blue cheese, then baked and broiled golden. All the bold buffalo wing flavor in an elegant roll-up.

Hot baked mushroom dip loaded with Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, sour cream, and a kick of hot sauce. Topped with bread crumbs and served bubbly from the oven.

Traditional muffuletta sandwich with salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad piled on a round crusty loaf. New Orleans street food legend that feeds four with simple, bold flavors.

Texas-style ribs are pork spareribs par-roasted to render fat, then oven-basted in a tangy citrus-ketchup sauce with horseradish and hot sauce. Sticky, sweet, and sharp with a sharp Hill Country edge.

Whole chicken basted in a rich butter sauce with sherry, curry powder, Worcestershire, oregano, and dry mustard. Slow-roasted and repeatedly glazed until the skin turns deep golden and lacquered.

Chicken almendrado simmers breast halves in a blended sauce of almonds, red chilies, cinnamon, and chicken broth. A Mexican almond-chile sauce with warm spice and subtle heat. Serve over rice.

A classic Thai hot and sour shrimp soup (Tom Yum Goong) with lemongrass, galangal, coriander root, lime juice, fish sauce, and red chilies. Fragrant, spicy, and ready in 30 minutes.

Authentic Thai kaeng khua curry paste with dried chilies, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, and shrimp paste. Stores in the fridge for months and makes about 3/4 cup.

Low-cal crustless quiche packed with green chilies, Monterey Jack, roasted red peppers, and Dijon mustard. Spicy, cheesy, and lighter than traditional quiche.

Savory crab cheesecake on a buttery cracker crust with Old Bay seasoning, Tabasco, and lemon, topped with sour cream. A showstopping Maryland-style appetizer that serves 12.