03\ High And Dry
While fresh chillies lend a lively sting to stir-fries and garnishes, it’s the dried varieties that give curries their slow but potent burn. What’s more, fresh chillies aren’t in season for long and have a short shelf-life, so prepping your own dry blends will keep you in heat all year. Here, Lisa Guy of the Dorset Chilli Shop (dorsetchillishop.co.uk) suggests heady concoctions for healthy scenarios. In each case, dry your chillies on a tray at 100°C for 15 minutes, then whizz in a spice (or coffee) blender and store until needed
The Post-gym Fire Blanket
The Dorset naga once held the top spot for heat intensity in the UK – and you’ll see why. Balance the oral assault with cumin, which is an effective painkiller. Add a third of the mix to your pot to create a fiery curry that will help you blot out irksome training pains. Although we would advise saving this dish until your session is over.
Ingredients
Dorset naga, ½ Garlic powder, 2tbsp Paprika, 1tbsp Cumin, 1tbsp Caraway seeds, ½tbsp Salt & pepper, ½tbsp
The Longevity Mixer
A study conducted by the Uni of Vermont found that chillies help keep your heart pumping, while other research shows that those who like it hot enjoy longer lives. Meanwhile, parsley and coriander are packed full of vit K, which crushes your mortality risk. Use this mix (sparingly) in fishcakes. Skip the side of chips for best results, though.
Ingredients The Weight Combustor
The mix below provides the ideal rub for a lean grill-up. Not only does the chilli speed up your fat-burning, but nutritionists at Columbia University found that adding ginger to your meals scorches an extra 43 calories. This one is not for the faint of heart, admittedly. But it will be for the low of body fat.
Ingredients
A trinidad moruga scorpion chilli, whole Mild curry powder, 1tbsp Garlic powder, ½tbsp Ginger powder, 1tbsp Chinese five-spice powder, ½tbsp Sesame seeds, 1tbsp
The Pre-bed Balancer
A milder but no less fragrant chilli, the kashmiri isn’t going to keep you up all night. But that’s rather the point: by combining the fruit’s appetitesuppressing effects with a dose of bloodsugar-regulating cinnamon, you’ll keep metabolism ticking over while you get some much needed shuteye. Mix it into your protein oats an hour before lights out.
Ingredients