The Best Spicy Sauce for any Sandwich

The Secret Sauce

Bring the heat with this perfectly balanced, creamy sauce that has a touch of spicy, sweet, and tang. Made with Calabrian chili pepper paste and a touch of honey it’s better than Chic Fil A and homemade. What is Calabrian pepper paste? Well, if you’ve watched any Food Network lately, you’ll know that it’s one of Bobby Flay’s secret weapons in the kitchen and honestly, it’s worth the hype. It has such a unique flavor and a building heat that is really versatile. It’s the star of my sauce and it only takes a few teaspoons a couple of minutes to come together.

All About that Pepper

The sauce starts with the crushed Calabrian pepper which comes from Calabria, Italy. It’s described as having a smokey, fruity flavor and of course a good bit of heat. I like to think of it like the smoked jalapeno of Italy. You add it to your dish, and it just gives this background note that is unique and makes people ask, ‘What is that flavor?”

A really good blog post that talks more in depth about the pepper is on CookingGem.com. Worth the read if you are interested. If not, read on for the recipe to my sauce and other ways to use it.

Where to Buy It

I like to keep a jar of this goodness on hand in the fridge at all times. I add a little to my eggs to give them some personality and anywhere I just want some extra flavor. Even in my marinara sauce for pizza. And of course, in this recipe for a spicy sauce, aioli style, that goes great on any sandwich or burger. I can often find it in my local Whole Foods market but if you are shopping online, it’s less expensive on Amazon (see link below).

Calabrian Chili Peppers

Spicy Sauce Recipe:

3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp Calabrian pepper paste
2 Tablespoons honey
Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Method:

In a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients and taste for heat. Add more pepper paste if you like it a little bit spicier and more mayonnaise if you want to temper it.