Q: Hi Dave,Most of the habanero sauce recipes on your website call for carrot. Does the carrot flavor specifically compliment the habanero?Thanks, Sivan A: Hello Sivan:The carrot dilutes the intense heat of the habanero and the flavor is complimentary. But other vegetables or fruits can be used, such as mango, papaya, or even sweet potato.–Dave
Pepper Mash Not for Home Use
Q: Dear Dave,I want to make my own habanero mash and I want to use as little salt as possible. What’s a good salt/vinegar/pepper ratio?–Douglas A: Hello Douglas:You are not giving me enough information to answer your question.–Is this for home or commercial use?–How do you intend to store the mash?–What is the purpose for doing this?The reason I ask …
No Reliable Listing for Hot Sauce Heat Scales
Q: Dave,I’ve looked around the internet but haven’t been able to find a listing of relative heat for the different commercial hot sauces. A listing, for example, which would let you see whether Dave’s Insanity Sauce is hotter than, say, Crazy Jerry’s Brain Damage. Is there such a thing?Thanks, Tom A: Hello Tom:The problem is that the manufacturers either:1. Don’t have …
How to Dilute Vindaloo
Q: Dear Dave,I made a delicious Vindaloo but it is unbearably hot. Is there anything that I can do to this already prepared dish to make it edible? What would happen if I added a bit of milk or yogurt to this dish?–Theresa A: Hello Theresa:The only thing you can do is add more of the non-chile ingredients to dilute …
Heat: Pickled vs. Fresh Peppers, Effects of Alcohol
Q: Dave:When making sauces with chiles, do fresh chiles add more heat than pickled peppers? Also, does alcohol enhance the heat of chiles?Thanx, Bill A: Hello Bill:Fresh vs. pickled, it depends entirely upon the variety. Vinegar does not affect the heat level. Alcohol has no effect on the heat of the sauce.–Dave