Make Your Own Crushed Red Pepper Flakes and Use Them On Everything
You never have to buy them again
Crushed red pepper flakes don’t get enough credit.
They are easily overlooked - appearing in a smudgy jar next to grated parm at red-checked tablecloth Italian joints, languishing in dusty plastic “spice jars” in your pantry, and lurking in the dark recesses of that “everything” drawer alongside lonely packets of ketchup, mustard, and soy sauce leftover from your takeout order.
If this is your relationship with crushed red pepper flakes, it’s time for you to join the red pepper party. Crushed red pepper flakes add an interesting fruity flavor and a soft heat to almost everything you cook and eat.
So what ARE crushed red pepper flakes?
Red pepper flakes are dried ground chile peppers, usually a blend of several kinds of chiles. Most commercially made blends start with cayenne but also include Anaheims, chipotle, arbol, pasilla, guajillo, and peppers depending on the level of heat the producers are after.
Is this something I can make at home?
YES! Easily. and you should! Making your own crushed red pepper flakes is as easy as grinding up a couple of dried peppers of your choice. Leave the seeds in the peppers. They add character, visual interest, and extra flavor.
The best thing about making your own crushed red pepper flakes is that you can customize the blend and control the heat. Choose a couple of dried chiles in the produce section of the grocery - New Mexico, Anchos, and Pasillas are mild, Guajillo and Arbol will be spicier. Feel free to mix and match. Take them home, remove the stems, cut them into chunks, and grind them up. You can pound them in a molcajete, put them into a bag and whack them with a rolling pin, or zing them in a spice grinder. Your coffee grinder will work, too but your coffee will never be the same. Consider investing in a grinder to use just for spices.
Once you discover how delicious, versatile, and flavorful red pepper flakes truly are, I suspect you’ll find all kinds of uses for them. Soon you’ll be reaching for them as often as the salt and black pepper.
Crushed red pepper flakes are a fantastic addition to:
Scrambled eggs
Grits
Salsa
Polenta
Soups and stews
Chili
Sauces, like Alfredo, marinara and barbeque
Pizza
Pasta
Hummus
Greens
Salad dressings
Sauteed vegetables
Stir-fry
Baked goodies
I’ve included a recipe for a DIY Chile Crisp from the New York Times. I love this recipe! You get to choose how spicy to make it and you can use it on everything! It’s particularly great on sesame noodles and as a final touch to Fettucini Alfredo. Plus, it’s a great way to try out your new crushed red pepper flake skills. Welcome to the pepper party! I’m happy you are here.
With Spicy Love ~
Chelly
