They say variety is the spice of life, and we say life is better with a variety of spices. Summer is the perfect time to turn up the heat on your traditional meals by adding some spice.
It may seem a little illogical to eat hot foods in the middle of summer. But spicy cuisines rule the day in some of the world’s hottest regions. From Southeast Asia to North Africa to Mexico, those who live in hot areas eat some of the world’s spiciest fare.
Why? Well, eating spicy foods can actually raise your body temperature and trigger a bit of sweat, giving you a cooling sensation. Plus, they’re delicious!
But a great spicy summer dish is about more than just heat. The spicy recipes we’re showcasing here offer many different bold flavors that complement the heat and give you an all-around satisfying experience.
When the hot summer day has you craving something light with a spicy kick, our red miso ramen fits the bill.
This recipe starts with Pacific Foods organic low sodium chicken broth for a rich base that’s not too salty. Bring it to a simmer and add chopped portobello mushrooms, miso paste, spinach and — here’s where the spice comes in — gochujang. This red chili paste can be found at many Asian markets. And if you can’t find it, sriracha or other hot sauce is a great substitute.
Pour the soup over ramen noodles. As the noodles soften, garnish with scallions, sesame seeds and a boiled egg. Enjoy!
View the full recipe: 15-Minute Spicy Red Miso Ramen
This vibrant, colorful dish is easy to make and ends up looking just as good as it tastes. It’s perfect for a weeknight summer dinner when you want something satisfying with a kick.
The filling starts with quinoa that you simmer in delicious Pacific Foods Organic Vegetable Broth and Pacific Foods Organic Cream of Mushroom Soup. The quinoa will absorb all the garden-fresh flavor of the broth as it cooks. Toss in black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, sweet corn, onion and salt and pepper.
Now it’s spice time. Chili powder, cayenne pepper and a fresh jalapeño (no seeds for this one) go into the mixture, along with other spices for flavor.
Slice your fresh bell peppers in half and fill them with the mixture. Resist the temptation to overstuff your peppers. Bake them for 20 minutes and finish with a Tex-Mex flourish by topping with cilantro, cotija cheese and slices of avocado.
View the full recipe: Spicy Stuffed Mexican Peppers
It’s hard to beat a one-pot dish no matter the time of year. The only thing better is a one-pot dish with a summer spark, and this spicy sweet potato chipotle soup delivers.
The spice for this soup comes from chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. You can buy adobo sauce in a jar on its own or with peppers included. Adobo is used in Mexico, Puerto Rico and many other regions, and it’s incredible in every cuisine.
If you love heat, you can include chipotle peppers in the soup as well. Exclude them if you’re in the mood for a little less spice.
Pacific Foods organic salted chicken broth gives this sweet potato soup its richness and deep flavor. With the brightness of sweet potatoes and the smoky spice of adobo, this soup is sure to satisfy your family.
View the full recipe: Spicy Sweet Potato Chipotle Soup
This one is on the milder side of the spice spectrum. It’s a great spicy recipe when you’re looking for just a little heat, but you don’t want your socks knocked off.
This soup gets its deep, earthy flavor from only nine simple ingredients. That flavor stems from the base of Pacific Foods Organic Mushroom Broth, which is gluten free and vegan. It is a perfect supporting character, allowing this recipe’s mushrooms, bok choy and zucchini to be the stars. The spice comes from a dash of red pepper flakes.
And the best part? This satisfying soup can be ready in about 20 minutes — making it a perfect summertime dinner.
View the full recipe: Spicy Miso Mushroom Noodle Bowl
Here’s something you might not have tried before. Steaming clams can sound a little intimidating, but they’re really not. Honestly, the hardest part is cleaning the clams, and even that isn’t too time consuming.
You’ll steam the clams in our super flavorful Pacific Foods organic chicken broth. Before steaming, you’ll complement the broth with onion, garlic, tomato and some crushed red pepper to add some heat. All told, it takes about an hour to prepare this dish. When you’re ready to eat, serve it with some good crusty sourdough or a gluten-free baguette.
View the full recipe: Steamed Clams (Spicy)
It’s hard to beat a good pasta dish. They’re quick and easy, and pasta makes a great delivery system for incredible sauces. Here’s a pasta dish with an Asian twist (and some spice, too).
We recommend spaghetti for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite pasta shape. Whatever pasta you choose will be flavored with an enticing cashew sauce.
Make the sauce by whisking cashew butter, soy sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes and creamy Pacific Foods cashew milk. You can dial the spice levels up or down by adding more or less red pepper flakes.
Dish up your pasta and sauce in your favorite bowls. Then top it with a delicious mushroom and kale mixture, along with a few sliced cashews for a garnish.
View the full recipe: Spicy Cashew Noodles with Kale and Mushrooms
When the chill of your A/C sparks a craving for some heat, you might want something even easier than the spicy recipes we’ve mentioned. Ready-to-serve soups from Pacific Foods to the rescue! These convenient soups serve up full, zesty flavors in minutes.
Pacific Foods Organic Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup is a kicked-up version of the classic soup we all love. Spiced with chili pepper and scotch bonnet pepper, this chicken noodle soup will wake up your taste buds even if the summer sun has you a little worn down.
Delicious and flavorful bite after bite, Pacific Foods Organic Spicy Harissa Lentil Soup is a great warm weather dish. Green lentils, carrots, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers and onions are seasoned with garlic, ginger and turmeric to create a complex flavor. Chili pepper extract provides a mild spice level.
Make your cooking sizzle with high-quality ingredients from Pacific Foods. You can order products online or find them at stores near you. From broths to beverages to soups, we’ve got your spicy recipe summer needs covered. Shop for your favorites now.