Do you have a daring palate? Are you in the pursuit of spice? Are you ready to push the limit of your spice threshold? If your answer is yes, then you’re ready to be introduced to the ten spiciest foods the world has to offer. The artful blend of ingredients, complex combination of spices, fiery flavours and authentic cooking techniques used, create spicy dishes that will take you on a global adventure across borders, and through cultures and traditions, setting your taste buds on fire.
Top 10 spiciest dishes from across the globe
For an intense and exhilarating sensory experience, here are ten spicy dishes you have to try:
1. Phaal Curry
From India/Britain, Phaal Curry is a British-Asian curry that is renowned as being the spiciest curry in the world. Made with lots of ghost peppers, in a thick, tomato-based sauce, this curry often comes with a disclaimer due to its extreme heat. To help soothe the heat, Phaal curry is often served with plain basmati rice, naan bread and yoghurt.
2. Vindaloo
Originating from India, Vindaloo is a fiery curry that has Portuguese roots. This harmonious blend of vinegar and spices, uses dried red chilli peppers, black pepper, mustard seeds, cumin and garam masala. This combination of spices helps to preserve the paste in hot climates, while creating a spicy sauce with a tangy and slightly sweet undertone.
3. Sichuan Hot Pot
A spicy and communal broth, the Sichuan Hot Pot originates from China’s Sichuan province and uses plenty of Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies, as well as star anise, fennel, and garlic. This creates layers of deep and spicy flavours.
4. Jerk Chicken
Jamaica Jerk Chicken has deep roots in the island’s history. It is flavoured with a legendary jerk spice mix which combines Scotch bonnet peppers, as well as other spices, including allspice and thyme. The meat is smoked over pimento wood to give it a smoky flavour, resulting in the dish having a fiery heat with a hint of sweetness, boosted y aromatic spices.
5. Kimchi Jjigae
A staple in Korean households, this stew is made from fermented kimchi, seasoned with gochugaru (red pepper flakes) and gochujang (red pepper paste). Fiery, with a hint of tanginess, the depth of spice builds with each mouthful.
6. Otak-Otak
A fish cake originating from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia/Malaysia, the fish is ground into a paste and mixed with chilies, lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric. Wrapped in banana leaves, the spicy profile of Otak-Otak is combined with a smoky hue.
7. Prik Khing
A dry curry originating from Thailand, this is a potent dish made from dried red chilies, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime peel. Unlike other Thai curries, this dish isn’t made with coconut milk, which gives it a rich and aromatic flavour that has a lingering spice.
8. Cau Cau
A Peruvian cuisine, this earthy dish is made with honeycomb tripe and the fruity heat of aji Amarillo, a yellow chilli pepper. Spice is an essential component of this delicious dish.
9. Neua Pad Prik
This Thai dish gets its heat from fresh Thai bird’s eye chilies, which is combined with umami flavours of oyster and fish sauces and fragrant Thai basil, to create a full-bodied taste which is as spicy as it is aromatic.
10. Doro Wat
Originating from Ethiopia, the main ingredient of this stew is berbere, which is blended with chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and other spices to create a complex flavour profile. The spicy flavour of this dish is balanced nicely with an earthy, and slightly sweet, taste.
So, which spicy dish will you try first?
