It’s hard to believe anyone could end up overdoing it on spice
But if you ever find yourself in that situation, there’s help! While you may love spicy food yourself, we can maybe see a situation where you end up with too much of a good thing. Some people just don’t realize the true extent of the pepper hotness scale, no matter how much you warn them ahead of time. If it happens, you’ll know it because your mouth will probably literally feel like it’s on fire! After-all, some hot peppers and hot pepper extracts are scorching hot! Luckily, you have some options. Some people say a glass of milk is the way to go because the protein in milk helps break down the capsaicin in hot peppers. But that’s just a way to tone down the spice after the fact.
If you want to “fix” the over-spiced food
You can either try diluting it or adding in something that helps mask some of the spicy flavor between courses. Something citric like mangoes or lemons can help. You may also try a cider vinegar or a red wine vinegar with some sugar and use it as a sauce or glaze. If the food is a curry or a stew, you can try adding more liquid to the food. While this helps dilute some of the spicy flavor, you will want to make sure you’re not putting in too much liquid. You could end up messing up the ratio of liquid to solid food.
If all else fails...
You can simply leave the spicy food alone and add in a simple side dish. Things like plain pasta, rice and mashed potatoes can sometimes do the trick because they help coat your taste buds. Remember, we all have a different taste when it comes to spicy food, so unless you’re cooking for a huge crowd, just try and find the right balance.
