Balancing Heat

“Food that is hot must have flavor,” says Barbara Tropp and I agree.

How to do it? If you want heat, add chiles and remember to balance the dish with ingredients that stimulate all of your tastebuds. Something sweet, something salty, something sour… Here’s a list of ingredients that help mute and enrich the searing heat of chiles so you can have heat and flavor:

Radishes
Sour orange juice
Garlic
Lime
Cilantro
Ginger
Roasted vegetables
Vanilla
Herbs
Fennel
Spices
Yogurt
Cheese
Chocolate!

You don’t necessarily have to put these into your spicy dish. Try serving the meal with a foamy cold drink or incorporating them into a sidedish.