Not a big hot food fan - cajun a step too far?

cymatty

cymatty

cymatty

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I am trying to broaden my diet, in the past I have not been a big fan of "hot food", bell peppers counted as hot.:o

Recently I have started to try to increase my narrow food horizons and try things with a bit more poke. My current food heat level is Nandos medium (comfortable heat) and Old el Paso fajitas (mild) although I put pack of spice mix on less chicken than recommended (quite warm) :o

Watching Masterchef has me interested in trying Cajun meat, something like this?

http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10317-10001-135503-Bart+cajun+spice+mix

A step too far? Or can someone recommend something not too hot to help me build my tolerance (not a fish fan btw)

Thanks for helping with this strange request. :)
 
How can bell peppers be counted as hot. It has no capsaicin in it and hence a zero rating on the Scoville scale.
I think you would be absolutely fine with that, but its hardly expensive, just try it.
 
Glaucus said:
How can bell peppers be counted as hot. It has no capsaicin in it and hence a zero rating on the Scoville scale.
I think you would be absolutely fine with that, but its hardly expensive, just try it.
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It was in my head, pepper = hot, so I stayed away.

As I said I was not very adventurous but I am trying.
 
I'd get hotter food but have sour cream or the like on standby to go with it. We often cook food that would be far too hot by itself but once you mix it in with some nice vegetables (for example, some crunchy and refreshing pepper) and/or sour cream you reduce the hotness a lot. This works really well for fajitas, burritos, etc.

edit:

Cajun hotness. My Swedish girlfriend that hadn't really eaten spicy food at all in her life found cajun quite hot but really enjoyed it. After only having it twice she now enjoys much hotter food without any problems :)
 
malolo said:
Second time I've mentioned it on the forum today but BBC Good Food's Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya is easy and tasty.
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Looks like a good recipe, will have to give it a go.

delta0 said:
Cajun is fairly mild. Cajun potato wedges taste awesome. It also works well on roast chicken.
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Ohh potato wedges, sounds like a good idea.

FrenchTart said:
I'd get hotter food but have sour cream or the like on standby to go with it. We often cook food that would be far too hot by itself but once you mix it in with some nice vegetables (for example, some crunchy and refreshing pepper) and/or sour cream you reduce the hotness a lot. This works really well for fajitas, burritos, etc.

edit:

Cajun hotness. My Swedish girlfriend that hadn't really eaten spicy food at all in her life found cajun quite hot but really enjoyed it. After only having it twice she now enjoys much hotter food without any problems :)
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Yeah I am hoping that by working on heat levels that I can become used to it and try even more things. :)
 
Just eat the spice. You get used to it. Then a whole new world of nice food is available to you.
 
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Freefaller said:
Fantastic attitude. :) It's nice to see people trying to be more adventurous and try more foods and expand their palettes. :)
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Thanks, I figured why not. I spent ages disliking things for no reason, some without trying. Some of my favourite foods are things I have only tried in the last few years (Mild curries, Chilli, Fajitas, Chinese food). I figure there must be further stuff that I have not tried that I like and trying to enjoy some heat will help me. It hasn't been an all positive journey, some things I was right to dislike but at least I can back it up. :)

krooton said:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cajun-seafood-pasta/

I make this at least once a month, delicious!
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I was worried when I saw seafood but I like scallops, thanks. :)

Pestilence said:
Cajun isn't particularly hot, but tastes fantastic.

Next level after that to start breaching the flavourful hot realm would be Jerk.
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Might be a bit far, but a good target I guess.:D
 
Yeah, I used to be very fussy about food (and I still am in some ways - I just like my food to be good now rather than to just be chips or something). As you say, some things you end up not liking still but at least you've tried..and you've found a ton of other awesome things on the way.
 
Bought some today along with some chicken wings. I will try it tomorrow I am just hoping I dont use too much / too little mix.
 
You know what type of things I'd go for were I experimenting with spice?

I'd try making fajitas (the smoky BBQ old el paso will be a very gentle entry)

I'd also try making a jambalaya (it has a bit of cayenne pepper in it but I'd remove it or go super easy on it- also it has smoked paprika which is an essential element of lots of BBQ food). Try Jamie Oliver's recipe out. I really like it but add a lot more spice to it.

Also try Gordon Ramsay's chilli con carne- if you follow the recipe you'll end up with something very tasty and which is very easy on the spice.

I know chilli and fajitas aren't cajun but they're really easy to make and are very tasty and an easy entry to 'spicy' food.
 
I'd recommend the following two options:
Nandos hot sauce - work your way up. I wasn't a huge hot sauce fan, but heard some bro science about metabolism, and figures it'd be nice to broaden my taste buds as well. But yeah, you can work up through the spices.
Indians? You can often get quite good sweet and spicy ones, with the sweet being a good offset. It can also work up as well.

kd
 
The Cajun spice mix you get in small bottles really isn't that hot, as others have already said. I'd say its quite similar to what a Fajita spice mix is like, in flavour too.
 
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