16 Dinner Recipes for When You're Craving Something Spicy (2024)

FAQs

What food is very spicy? ›

According to science, dairy, and acidic foods and drinks are what you need to consume to help cool off the spiciness. Balancing it with an acid can help neutralize the capsaicin.

What helps settle your stomach after eating spicy food? Ice cream, milk, cottage cheese, and bread or another starchy food might help settle your stomach after eating spicy food. 4 A small amount of peppermint oil may help reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Enjoy every bite by pairing your spicy dish with a refreshing glass of milk. Milk helps your mouth handle an oily chemical compound in chili peppers called capsaicin that causes the well-known burning sensation from consuming spicy foods. This relief is thanks to casein, a protein found in cow's milk.

India: Phaal Curry

Recognised as the spiciest dish on the planet, those who attempt to eat the fiery Phaal Curry are often required to sign a form before eating (essentially so they won't sue the restaurant if something goes terribly wrong).

No, soft drinks are not an effective way to ease the spiciness of food. In fact, they may not provide much relief at all, and their effectiveness in reducing the sensation of spiciness varies from person to person.

Is mild spicy or not? ›

Mild is the lowest level of spice.

Mild means “not extreme,” so it's used to describe the least spicy foods. Medium, on the other hand, means “to be in the middle,” and is between mild and hot. Some mild and medium store-bought products can taste pretty similar, which can cause a little bit of confusion.

“It's a terrible story and fortunately rare, but it is true that eating a spicy chip, or any extremely spicy food, can cause an overwhelming neurologic pain response that can cause death,” says Joyce Yu, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist. “This is not an allergic reaction.”

Spicy food may play a role in promoting heart health. Research shows a correlation between a higher intake of spicy food and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies have also found a relationship between spicy food intake, higher HDL cholesterol levels (the "good" kind of cholesterol) and lower blood pressure.

The burn from capsaicin generally dissipates in about 15 minutes, according to McGee. Serena Ball, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, food writer and recipe developer. She blogs at TeaspoonOfSpice.com and is the author of the best-selling The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook.

However, combining salt with other ingredients that can neutralize or balance the spice, as mentioned earlier, can help reduce perceived spiciness.