It can happen in an instant: a little too much pepper, and suddenly your dish feels overpowering.
While this small mistake might seem like a disaster, there’s no need to worry—there are simple ways to rescue your meal.
Step 1: Remove Excess Pepper
According to CHIP, if the pepper hasn’t been stirred in yet, act quickly.
Use a spoon or tweezers to remove the visible grains. This can significantly reduce the spiciness before it spreads throughout the dish.
If the food is still too spicy, try adding peeled apple slices to the dish. Let the apple sit in the food for a while to absorb some of the spiciness, then remove it before serving. This trick works especially well for soups, stews, or other liquid-based dishes.
Step 2: Neutralize the Spiciness
If the pepper has already been mixed into the dish, neutralizing ingredients can help balance the flavor:
Potatoes: Add grated or large chunks of raw potato to the dish. Potatoes can absorb some of the heat and mellow the flavor.
Fats: Incorporate a fat-rich ingredient like butter, cream, or even a splash of milk. These work well in hot dishes by reducing the intensity of the spice. For cold dishes like salads, plain yogurt can neutralize the spiciness while adding a refreshing flavor.
Step 3: Serve With Bread
If the dish still feels too spicy, bread can come to the rescue. Serve slices of toast spread with butter or mascarpone as a side. The fat in the bread helps reduce the heat, and the bread itself makes the spiciness less noticeable on the tongue.
Too much pepper doesn’t have to ruin your meal.
With these simple tricks, you can salvage most dishes and avoid food waste. Plus, it’s a great learning experience to help you perfect your cooking for the future!
