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The Savory Spice Shop (above) in Rice Village ensures you have just the right flavors for sending your taste buds on a trip.
our recipes because in the summertime, peppers get really spicy, and by winter, jalapeños and habaneros are less spicy.”
When cooking Mexican food at home, some spices to have on hand include Mexican oregano, dried garlic powder, fresh black pepper and cumin. “But be careful with using too much cumin—it can overpower your dish,” advises chef Padilla.
THE SPICE OF LIFE Indian cuisine is probably the most complexly spiced food in the world, with up to a dozen different spices per dish. Owner Anita Jaisinghani of Indika epitomizes fine dining with the bold flavors of India, from street food-inspired pork belly chaat to her invigorating duck Rangoon in rice noodles with coconut and lentil curry.
On “No Menu Wednesdays,” guests can experiment with Indika’s palate of spices, flavors and techniques to create a unique tasting menu (vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available). A must-have on her dinner menu is the Kalonjucrusted beef tenderloin filet with a warm dark spice and garlic masala, draped with creamy cashew nutmeg curry. Wow.
Your Indian spice pantry at home should include turmeric; paprika and smoked paprika; garam masala (an Indian spice mix which usually includes cinnamon); ground cumin seeds; and ground or whole coriander seeds.
’TIS THE SEASON New Savory Spice Shop in Rice Village is a foodie paradise of dried spices, hot sauces and stocks, extracts and other ingredients and accessories for cooking. Choose from over 160 spice blends from baking spices to Jamaican jerk or Southwest blend. Even non-cooks enjoy visiting the store because you can taste before you buy—and the fragrances are intoxicating!
Hit the Spice Ware section for special graters and grinders, mortar and pestles and spice racks. Or consider a fire-eater spice pack for the habitual chili eater, a cookbook or apparel for holiday gifts.
According to co-owner Michelle Halbert, you should store your dried spices in airtight containers in a cool, dry place away from heat. Ground spices start to lose essential oils after six months. “Remember, if you eat something too spicy, the best relief for a burning mouth isn’t water; it’s a mild yogurt or sour cream,” says Halbert.
+scan these pages with Layar to get the Thai spice story, download a spicy pairing guide and satisfy your shopping cravings.
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Cinnamon, spice, and everything nice
Turn your kitchen into a spicy place with these must-have products.
1 SPICE IT UP Savory Spice Shop has it all, from seasoning blends to spice-ware gadgets to gifts like cookbooks and aprons. The Spice Rack of goodies includes a European nutmeg grinder that’s perfect for crafting holiday treats and eats.
$12.75. 2516 Times Blvd. 713-533-9333. savoryspiceshop.com
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2 BURN, BABY BURN iBurn Hot Sauce, Houston’s hot sauce emporium, challenges even the most devoted chili head with hundreds of sauces and salsas that will make you feel the burn. Check out Marie Sharp’s Grapefruit habanero hot sauce.
$1.25 per 2-oz. 4227 Bellaire Blvd. 832-649-4964. iburn.com
3 CAN’T TOUCH THIS You’ll need some grilling tongs for cooking spicy whole peppers over the hot coals. Check out the selection at Bering’s. We like the BBQ Stella Locking metal Tongs with padded handle.
$11.99. Two Houston locations. berings.com
4 PICK A PEPPER Jalapeños, banana peppers and scotch bonnets, oh my! At the Saturday Eastside farmers market, Atkinson Farms sells fresh jalapeños all year. Gunderman Farms sells a wide array of colorful peppers during the warmer months.
Priced per pound. 3000 Richmond Ave. urbanharvest.org
5 CHEF’S SECRET INGREDIENT Gochujang Korean Chili Sauce is the next generation of fermented hot chili paste and adds wonderful flavor to meatballs or braised chicken. The umami-rich hot sauce produced by Chung Jung One is new to Central Market grocery stores across Texas.
$3.99/7.5 oz. 3815 Westheimer. 713-386-1700, centralmarket.com
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