Spicy

Berberé, along with niter kibbeh, supplies one of the unique flavors of Ethiopian cuisine. There really is no substitute. Use as many of the spices as you have, but try to use fenugreek and the dried peppers or paprika. They supply an essential flavor. Read more »

A classic bar food, Buffalo wings came to us from Teresa Bellissimo, owner of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. Chicken wings are deep fried and tossed with a spicy, vinegary butter and hot pepper sauce. Their popularity has skyrocketed since their creation in the 1960s. Many of today's versions vary widely from the original recipe, breading the chicken or using barbecue or other sauces. This recipe is the incomparable original. Read more »

Born in the townships of South Africa, chakalaka is a simple, spicy dish of onions, tomatoes and often beans. It has been a staple for generations of black South Africans, and is a required condiment at South African braais, or barbecues. Chakalaka can be served hot or cold, over mealie pap, with slices of bread, or as a condiment for grilled meats. And what a fun name! Read more »

It's a little unclear where chili originated. The combination of powdered chiles and meat is likely an ancient one, familiar to the Aztecs and the Maya. But in its current form, chili seems to have started somewhere along the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexicans generally shun it as American. Most Americans are fine with that and regard it as their own. Read more »

Doro wat is perhaps the best known food from Ethiopia and is often referred to as that country's national dish. This recipe makes a very tasty version with a deep, rich flavor and tender chicken pieces. Making your own homemade berberé is not difficult and is essential to give the dish the proper flavor. Doro wat is traditionally very spicy, but you can adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your liking. Also spelled doro wot or doro wet. Read more »

This rich, flavorful dish is one of Haiti's most popular, invariably served at parties and family gatherings. Cubes of pork are soaked in a sour orange marinade and then slow-roasted until tender. The tender morsels are then given a finally fry in oil until delectably caramelized. This recipe uses a mixture of orange and lime juice in place of the hard-to-find sour orange juice. Also spelled grillots, griyo, griyot or griot. Read more »

Guasacaca is a popular condiment in Venezuela that is very similar to Mexican guacamole. Serve it as an accompaniment to grilled meats, poultry, salads, empanadas or arepas. Read more »

Gung bo gai ding, better known as kung pao chicken, is a famous dish from the spicy repertoire of Guizhou province in south-central China. The story goes that kung pao was created by a palace guard (gong boa) who later became a provincial governor. The tasty meal was brought to the United States by immigrants from Sichuan province, who added peanuts to the original recipe. It has since become one of the most popular Chinese dishes in the United States. Read more »

Harissa is a common spice paste seasoning in the Maghreb of Northern Africa, especially in Tunisia. It is used to add flavor to couscous, pasta, sandwiches and soups, either as a condiment or as an integral ingredient of dishes. Read more »

Jerk is a method of cooking meats that comes from the original inhabitants of Jamaica, the Arawaks. They roasted meats over fires of pimento wood from the allspice tree. Pimento wood gave a distinctive flavor to the meat and is still used for jerk grilling in Jamaica. Jerk marinades and rubs are often quite spicy with Scotch bonnet peppers. Recipes vary widely, but true jerk seasoning contains allspice. This recipe is for chicken, but pork, goat and even fish are also jerked. Read more »

Goa curry in one form or another is eaten up and down the western coast of India. There are endless variations, but the basic qualities are a fiery hot coconut curry with the sour punch of tamarind. Read more »

Kushari is a simple yet healthful dish of pasta, rice and lentils widely sold in small Egyptian restaurants and roadside stands. With its full complement of protein, a spicy topping of tomato sauce and crispy fried onions, kushari is often considered the Egyptian national dish. It was originally a poor man's dish, but nowadays kushari is enjoyed by all strata of society. Variously spelled koshari, kosheri, koushari or koshary. Read more »

Muhummara is popular condiment and dip in Lebanon, Palestine, Syria. Serve muhummara with grilled meats, fish and kebabs, or as a spread or dip for bread or pita. In western Turkey it is called acuka. Other spellings are moohummara or muhammarah. Read more »

Nua pad prik, or chile beef, is a delightfully easy Thai beef dish with a bracing yet refreshing heat from the fresh chiles. You can regulate the heat to your liking by adjusting the ratio of hot chiles to bell peppers. Read more »

Pebre is commonly served in Chile as a condiment with grilled meats, poultry or seafood. Read more »

Every Haitian home has a jar of pikliz on hand. Cabbage, carrots, chiles and other vegetables are soaked in vinegar to make a relish similar to American chow-chow or Italian giardiniera. The crunchy salad is served as a side dish at Haitian meals. Flavored vinegar from pikliz is often used in marinades or to give dishes a spicy-sour punch. Read more »

Rendang is a "dry" meat curry that originated in the Padang cuisine of west-central Sumatra. It has become popular throughout the Indonesian archipelago, as well as in Malaysia and Singapore. Rendang is an intensely flavorful dish often served on special occasions. The ingredients used to season it vary widely from region to region. Pick and choose as you have available. Read more »

Salsa mexicana is the basic salsa that is used as an all-purpose condiment in Mexico. There are innumerable variations, but here is a basic--and very tasty--version. Other names for it are salsa cruda, salsa fresca, salsa picada and pico de gallo. Read more »

Samaki wa kukaanga, Swahili for "fried fish," is a simple but popular way to prepare fish in Eastern Africa. It is sometimes sold at roadside stands. Read more »

This famous Indonesian peanut sauce is pronounced "sahm-bal kah-CHANG." Another name for it is bumbu satay. Serve with satay ayam or gado gado. Read more »

Soon tubu jjigae is popular Korean comfort food and can warm up the coldest night. A simple simmering of broth, kimchi, tofu and clams makes a stew with tons of flavor. Pair it up with steamed rice for a full meal. Read more »

This tasty vegetarian curry uses tempeh, a fermented soybean cake popular in Indonesian cuisine. The lemongrass, lime leaves and galangal are for seasoning and are not meant to be eaten. Remove them before serving if you like. Read more »

This is a great way to give tofu lots of flavor and a spicy kick. Serve as part of an assortment of Korean banchan side dishes. Or pair with rice and a simple steamed vegetable for a healthy vegetarian meal. Read more »

Serve spicy yum pla muk salad as part of a larger Thai meal. Make sure not to overcook the squid or it will become rubbery. Read more »