neutral-tasting spice for heat?

[capnamerca]

What do you guys use to add heat to your meals? I don't mind jalapeno taste, so for most sautee/grill things, I'll add jalapeno's and their seeds. But for some other things, red pepper is pretty overpowering, and the vinegar-based sauces just taste nasty to me. Anything out there to add heat to a dish that's fairly taste-neutral?

 

[AvengeKingTut]

I use cayenne pepper. It takes very little to add a lot of heat.

 

[Brubricker]

IMHO, Tabasco sauce is always the tried-and-true #1 option when used carefully in moderation. There really is no second choice. There is no other heat source on the planet that matches the top quality of Tabasco. If I'm wrong then tell me who's done it better, but I've never found it.
The real key to it all is knowing when its time to stop adding more because when it comes to real heat more is definitely not better.

 

[Roger]

God perfected the heat by giving us the Habanero pepper, it only takes one finely diced pepper to spice a whole pot

 

[El Sapo]

Tabasco is anything but neutral in taste.

Most chile powders will fit the bill... I prefer the various brands available at Asian markets. They add as little or as much heat as you want without 'overtaking' the flavor of your dish.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

Dried red pepper flakes, the kind you find in shakers at pizza joints.

Good bit of heat w/ very little "taste" of their own.

 

[Tex Pete]

Yep. Red or cayenne.

Both are hot and pretty neutral.

 

[scottsins]

In reply to:

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[Agent007]

Agree with red pepper flakes. I use them all the time.

Alternative which is similar is to get whole dried red chilies. You can drop them into a chopper and throw what comes out into thing. You can also use them whole.

If you want to try something new, next time you make stew or chili, throw a little oil in a pan, add some diced onions, let them sautée drop in a red chili or two and dump into the chili/stew and mix it in. I think you will like. Maybe try it in small quantity before dumping into a whole pot to see if you like it.

 

[Agent007]

ok, so i stole the idea from South Asian cuisine...
The Link

 

[RayDog]

Chili oil is a good source of heat, readily available in Asian markets.

Speaking of that, when I'm cooking Thai or other Asian style dishes I really like sambal bajak.