What is my Ay Caramba Chili blend?

This Ay Caramba Chili blend consists of hot pepper, paprika, cumin, oregano, cloves and garlic. It comes in the form of a fine red-brown powder and is perfect for seasoning Tex-Mex recipes.

Traditionally, this blend is composed of 4 to 7 spices in different proportions depending on the regions of the world where it is prepared, the tastes of each, the desired flavours.

The ingredients include chilli pepper, oregano, garlic and other spices to achieve the desired range of aromas. The main ingredient of this spice blend is hot pepper... lovers of spicy flavours will appreciate it!

David Vanille's choice: I have chosen to present this blend for its subtle balance between spiciness and aromas. It will seduce the amateurs of cooking spiced by its spicy taste but subtly counterbalanced by the sweeter flavours of garlic, oregano and cumin.

Ingredients of my spice blend

My Ay Caramba Chili blend is composed of the following 6 spices:

• Hot pepper: this is the fruit of a plant of the Solanaceae family native to South America, Mexico and Central America. The hot pepper spices up dishes and has a bactericidal effect.
• Paprika: this spice originating from Mexico is made from dried peppers and chilli peppers. It is also called sweet pepper.
• Cumin: this plant is native to the Mediterranean basin. It is found in many oriental recipes and in various spice blends such as curry.
• Oregano: Oregano is a plant of Western origin that will be imported to the Middle East. It is widely used in Greek, Portuguese and Italian cuisine. It has antiseptic virtues.
• Clove: an Indonesian spice found in meat marinades, gingerbread and sauerkraut. It is also used in herbal teas or as an essential oil to relieve toothache.
• Garlic: Garlic is a plant that is part of the superfoods. Its origins are in Central Asia where it has been used for more than 5,000 years. It is an essential component of marinades.

Differences between the Ay Caramba Chili blend and the hot pepper

The hot pepper alone brings a pungent taste that we find in this spice blend. However, the combination of the different spices brings more subtle flavours to your dishes; the sweetness of the garlic counterbalances the spiciness of the chilli pepper.

The origins of the Ay Caramba Chile spice blend

This blend of spices is used mainly in South America, Spain and Portugal. It is found in Tex-Mex, Iberian and Portuguese cuisine.

If its name evokes Chile, its origins would be rather American. It is in the south of the United States that we find the first traces of it. Then, this mixture was used to bring the necessary flavour to this South American "poor man's dish" and flagship recipe of Tex-Mex cuisine: chili con carne.

Rather spicy and with smoky notes, it accomplished its mission in a prodigious way.

Did you know that? The name of this spice "Ay Caramba Chili" does not refer to the country, Chile, but to the chilli pepper of the same name.

Benefits of the ingredients in this spice blend

The Ay Caramba Chili spice blend has the benefits of all the ingredients in it. It allows among others :

• To fight against cell ageing with cloves
• To have an appetite suppressant effect thanks to the feeling of satiety brought by the consumption of chilli pepper
• To provide a source of vitamins A, B1, B2 and C thanks to garlic.
• Bringing potassium and antioxidants thanks to paprika
• To relieve digestion problems thanks to cumin and oregano
• To fight against bloating and bacteria (especially oral) with cloves

How to use Ay Caramba Chili blend in cooking?

The ingredients that make up this blend of spices make it an ideal companion in the preparation of typical tex-mex meals, but also of dishes of Iberian origin.

On the nose, you will at first smell the smoky notes of this blend, then the spicy scents will be released and quickly completed by the spiciness delivered by the hot pepper.

Once in your mouth, you will be as if captured by a lasso of different taste sensations that will occur almost simultaneously.

You'll go from smoky to spicy with the sweet presence of garlic. Your taste buds will be pleasantly jostled.

Stewed dishes, barbecues, fish and shellfish, Mexican-style beef, Tinga Poblana... Ay Caramba Chili spice goes well with many land and sea products.

This blend will also sublimate all your pasta dishes, polentas, and other starchy foods. Try it especially in Spaghetti a la Puttanesca according to Julie Andrieu.

Good to know: The Ay Caramba Chili Spice Mix is very resistant to long cooking times, each flavour will stay true to what you expect even when preparing stews. Our recipe ideas with my American Spice Mix

Our recipe ideas with my Tex Mex spice mix "Ay Caramba Chili"

Would you like to bring a little spice to your kitchen? The Ay Caramba Chili mixture is made for that! Discover some recipes that this tasty spice blend will spice up.

The starter: Crunchy spicy vegetables in a brick sheet

A light but full-flavoured starter! Finely chop peppers, carrots and cabbage. Fry them in hot oil. Add a little Ay Caramba Chili mixture. Double your brick pastry sheets and garnish with the vegetable mixture. Put them in the oven. Serve with a good red wine!

The dish: Tex-Mex roasted prawns

If this spice goes perfectly with meat, it is also tasty with seafood. Grill your prawns. Make a tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes and onions. Spice it with the spice mixture. Enjoy with bread or wild rice.

The dessert : Spicy roasted pineapple

Although this spice is not often used in sweet dishes, it can pleasantly spice up a roasted fruit. Pineapple lends itself perfectly to this. Cut your pineapple into thick slices. Grill it and sprinkle with Ay Caramba Chili mixture. Delicious!

How do you store a tex mex spice blend?

This spicy spice blend can be stored like most spices: in an airtight jar away from the light. This way it will keep all its flavours.