These Cayenne Pepper Recipes Are Hot!
Cayenne peppers might be physically small, but this powerful little vegetable packs a punch in more ways than one. Using it in your cooking will tantalize your taste buds, and it's also good for you. You can consume this hot pepper whole, or chopped, or ground into powder.
Culinary Uses of Cayenne Pepper
The capsaicin that comes from cayenne peppers tends to linger on your skin, which is why you should be extra careful when chopping these fiery little fellows. You'll have to wash extensively with soap and water to get the oil off, or just wear gloves to protect your fingers. Whatever you do, don't touch your eyes while chopping cayenne peppers, or you'll definitely have something to cry about.
Cayenne pepper's spicy heat is what makes it such an asset in the kitchen. It's famous for adding an extra kick to some of our most beloved foods, including grilled meats. Check out this Cayenne Cinnamon Ribs with Maple Glaze recipe, which marries powdered cayenne with — wait for it — McCormick Ground Cinnamon in a sweet-hot dry rub that gives baked baby-back ribs a whole new flavor profile.
Cayenne also makes sauces more memorable. This Nashville-Style Hot Chicken recipe combines spice-marinated deep-fried chicken with a fiery cayenne-powered southern-style sauce that will set your taste buds a-tingling.
Cayenne in drinks
Cayenne goes beyond fiery entrees, elevating all kinds of food from drinks to desserts. It can spice up your morning beverage, putting a little spring in your step for the day. That's the idea behind our Fizzy Morning Juice, which uses some McCormick Ground Cayenne Red Pepper to make some feisty pepper syrup. Cooling cucumber along with sweet apple and clementine create an intriguing flavor combination in a glass.
A little cayenne powder in this Spicy Green Tea recipe is also perfect for putting a little extra zing in your afternoon tea break.
Cayenne in salads
This spicy-hot little vegetable goes surprisingly well with cold dishes. Here's a Buffalo Chicken Potato Salad to prove our point. Simply adding cayenne deepens and enriches the simple flavor of chicken, celery, and potatoes.
Alternatively, try our Cool Cucumber Salad, which is still cool in spite of adding cayenne pepper powder. Just a pinch of this magical spice enlivens the vinegar and dill combination that underpins this delightful summer concoction.
If you've got any of those cucumbers or celery sticks left over, then how about dipping them in some Homemade Hummus? Whizzing in a little cayenne gives this middle eastern favorite some extra bite. Take our advice: sprinkle some of the pepper on top too so guests can enjoy its gorgeous red color.
Cayenne for dessert
Yes, you read that right. Cayenne's versatility knows no bounds, and it's just as at home in these refreshing desserts. These Mini Frozen Thai Lime Pies marry warm, sweet ginger with a hint of cayenne that blends perfectly with cool lime and coconut cream.
Still got a sweet tooth? These Sweet Heat Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream Bars mix no-churn ice cream with a sweet heat raspberry swirl that includes cayenne pepper powder and - get this - Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce. Yes, its a dessert, and yes, we're serious. Don't knock it till you've tried it.
While it can be beneficial for your health, though, it's important to consult your doctor before using this spice in anything other than a culinary capacity. Never fear, though; once you use this amazing spice in your cooking you'll find all kinds of uses for it in the kitchen.
