Even though we’re well into fall, it still feels like summer in most parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, which has me wanting to enjoy spicy foods with an icy cold beer, a cool glass of wine, or a frosty cocktail. Being the wuss that I am, I prefer finger foods and small bites—so I can quickly quell the heat with one of the aforementioned drinks between mouthfuls—which is why these nine spicy shrimp recipes are totally my jam.
Firstly, they’re easy to whip up and don’t require a long list of ingredients. Some, like goong pad nam prik pao (Thai stir-fried shrimp with chile jam) and ebi no chirisōsu (Japanese shrimp in chile sauce), rely on jarred condiments to do the heavy lifting. Best of all, you can dial the heat level up or down to suit your spice tolerance—go ahead and toss in a few more bird’s-eye chiles (seeds and all) if you like things fiery. And don’t be surprised if when these dishes have you licking every last bit of sauce off your plate and fingers!
