I love spicy salads. The first time I ever had one–a really spicy one–was at Mooncake Foods. They serve their salads with homemade dressings, and everything on the menu with a side of jalepeño garlic sauce. For the longest time, I thought that lush, green sauce was the dressing and I would douse my salad with it. There was something so satisfying about paring cool, crunchy vegetables with intense spiciness, and I was hooked.
Another pepper I love is chipotles. They are not just spicy, but also smoky–flavors I crave year-round. I always pick the dried ones, available at Latin markets, over the canned ones. They have a more intense, smoky flavor without the extra additives or metallic taste. I use them to make spicy vegan mayo, creamy pasta sauce, marinades and salsa. Read more…
