How to Fix a Meal That's Too Spicy

What do you do if you put too much spice in your spicy dish? Going just a little overboard on the hot chilies can render an otherwise delicious dinner inedible. This common kitchen error has happened to most cooks at some point in their lives. It is a shame to throw out perfectly good food that you spent the time to make just because it is too hot. This video from Real Simple shares a number of tips to help you fix your meal and make it edible again and provides some cooling accompaniments to serve alongside a particularly spicy dish.

Did you know that the substance that gives chilies their heat can also help with pain relief? Known as capsaicinoids, these chemicals are naturally present in chili peppers and bind to pain receptors when they enter the mouth and throat. This results in a body response of endorphin release, sweating and elevated pulse rate. These substances can be used medicinally as a topical analgesic for conditions such as arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, herpes zoster, headaches or mastectomy pain.

At the present time the hottest chili pepper known to man is called the Carolina Reaper, according to Guinness World Records. A rating scale known as the Scoville Scale is used to measure the intensity of various chili peppers with units called Scoville Heat Units. The Carolina Reaper tops the scale with peak levels at over 2 million units, while the more commonly known Jalapeno pepper weighs in at about 8,000 units and the Habanero pepper is around 350,000 units.

The domestication of chili peppers began in Mexico more than 6,000 years ago. Cultivation of chili peppers later spread around the globe in the 1400s and chilies became a valuable trading item. While their value in culinary and medicinal use is without question, the wise cook knows to use chilies sparingly in the kitchen. For more info visit the 'Real Simple' website link below.