Rodney Scott's Beginner Tip For People Who Don't Like Spicy Foods - Exclusive
Barbecue master Rodney Scott has been learning the art of barbecue since he was a kid. His father taught him what wood to use, the best way to burn it, and how to turn a whole hog into an amazing feast. But wood, the pit, and the animal aren't the only important parts of an amazing barbecue. Scott's father also taught him that seasoning is just as important.
Growing up in the South, sauces, and spices have always been a crucial part of the process. While there are essential spices you should have in your pantry, one of the main spices in Southern cooking has always been cayenne. Unfortunately, cayenne ranks between 30,000 and 50,000 units on the Scoville scale, which means it's one of the spicier peppers out there. Scott says on an episode of Netflix's "Chef's Table: BBQ" that he used to hate spicy foods as a kid but now he loves them. So, what's his secret? He told us he started with a tiny amount.
"You would just taste a little bit raw, just a pinch on your tongue," the chef explains. "Then you feel the heat and you notice that it levels off gently. And when you see that, you can increase the spice a little bit more," Rodney continues. "So, if you have one shake, you can increase it to two or three after you get that adjustment on how it lingers. That's kinda what I did," he says with a smile.
Cayenne has several health benefits
One of the spicier chilis out there, a cayenne chili can be four to 20 times hotter than a jalapeño. But it doesn't just pack a punch, it also has several health benefits. This is another reason why Scott wanted to improve his spice tolerance. "One of the things that I've learned about upping tolerance with spice is that I found out cayenne pepper is actually healthy for you," Scott says.
Full of antioxidants, the cayenne pepper not only improves digestion, it reduces the risk of cancer, and can even fight off migraines, Facty Health says. This chili is so good for you, you should consider adding it to your morning smoothie as a delicious finishing touch. And if you add it to your smoothie, you can kill two birds with one stone: Not only will you increase your spice tolerance, you'll get a healthy dose of vitamins as well.