These are four of the most creative ways to add some heat and flavor to your food while still getting to enjoy the familiar flavors that you love.

Unique Spices

We all know about cayenne and chile powder, but why not take it further?  In southwestern American states, there's a popular spice called chiltepin.

Made from powdered chiltepin peppers, this fine red grain is incredibly spicy and quickly adds heat to any dish without adding much flavor outside of it.  This ingredient is the best way to heat up familiar dishes without changing their flavor too much.  

There's a lot of hot flavor in this, so a little chiltepin goes a long way!  If you're interested in trying this, ensure you buy the full powder instead of trying to make it from dried peppers yourself since it can be hazardous to breathe in while blending.

Fun Dipping Sauces

Dipping sauces can change the flavor of any dish without having to change the steps of making it!  This could mean serving a dish with fun pepper jelly, or making your own unique sauce.

If there's any fast-food chain you love that has a tasty spicy or tangy sauce, consider looking up homemade duplicates that you can try in your kitchen!  This is a fun way to try out making your own sauces while getting to make it as spicy or mild as you'd like.

Creative Combinations

If you're used to the classics and want something fresh, consider replacing parts of the recipe to boost the flavor some.  This could mean replacing the cheese in chicken cordon bleu with pepper jack or adding buffalo sauce to your favorite hollandaise when you make eggs benedict.  Combining spicy and creamy together ensures that it doesn't devour the original flavor of the dish but amplifies it and makes it something more playful.

Almost any dish can have items shipped out or added to make it spicier, like replacing celery in your mirepoix with jalapenos to keep the same bright green texture while adding spice. So don't be afraid to get creative.

Sometimes Spice Isn't Capsaicin.

Although most people think of hot peppers when they think of heat: capsaicin isn’t the only way to make a dish burn in a good way!  Instead, consider spicing it up in other ways. For example, for desserts, cinnamon can add a lot of unexpected heat.

Although it's usually used in smaller amounts, cinnamon, when enough is used, can quickly build into a pleasant warmth and is the reason why Altoids and Big Red gum are known for a nice burn.