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When we are stressed out, we sometimes need nothing more than a little fresh air and fiery food. When we are down, many also seek a spicy solution. We can experience such tastes as sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and bitterness when we dine, yet when we eat hot spicy dishes it is not taste we are experiencing, but pain. So how can we derive such pleasure from our own discomfort?

   Throughout the world, people search for piquant dishes that will offer this peculiar mix of pain and pleasure. One Korean favorite is nakjibokkeum, stir-fried octopus, heavily armed with huge amounts of chili pepper powder and garlic. When you chow down on rice mixed with the plump octopus, you feel as if all your nerve cells are standing on end, giving you a great sense of being alive. If you take a bite of the steamed bean sprouts, the pain on your tongue eases a little as you chew. Many opt for a sip of jogaetang (clam soup) to dull the burning sensation. As you slurp a couple of spoonfuls of the soup, you may find that it helps you enjoy the spicy flavor all the more deeply, offering delightfully refreshing respite from the mollusk’s bite.

   In Thailand, a country known for its colorful tastes, pad prik king is said to be one of the hottest dishes. Pad prik king is a local curry with pad meaning stir-fried; prik, chili; and king, ginger. The sauce is made of hot chili and ginger, and the dish also includes bird’s eye chili, garlic, and onions. It is spicy yet sweet, so it doesn’t have the strong burning taste we might expect after glancing at the list of ingredients. Any meat, including pork, chicken, or beef, can be added, while many opt for shrimp and other seafood instead. Pad prik king is usually served on a bed of Thai rice.

   Another hot dish is Indian vindaloo. It is spicier than most curries and is often made with the addition of tomato. Originating in Goa when the area was under the rule of Portugal, the dish uses Portuguese chili and enhances its spicy flavors with garlic, pepper, and vinegar.
   On the Caribbean island of Jamaica, people chill out with hot food, too. One of the most favored dishes is jerk chicken. It is made by marinating chicken in a mixture of pimento chili, scotch bonnet peppers, and many other spices. This tropical treat is one dish to put on your banquet bucket list.

   Some say that eating spicy food frequently is bad for your health, but that is only true when the spicy taste comes from artificial flavor or a large amount of MSG. Capsaicin and allicin from natural ingredients such as pepper and garlic are even known to prevent fat accumulation and enhance immunity. Of course should you overindulge, you can kiss these benefits goodbye, and you’ll be met instead with a dish heavy on the pain, and light on the pleasure.

Written by Kim Shinyoung
Illustrated by Jeong Hyoju

Nakjibokkeum Padprikking Vindaloo Jerk_chickena