Hot Stuff
by Jennifer Kornegay
Some like it hot, and if you’re in this fiery faction, and you like to “eat local,” you’re in luck. Several spicy Alabama-made treats are available to really turn up the heat.
Southern Chili Lab Hot Sauces & Chili Crisp
This brand-new, Alabama-coast-based condiment company is turning out several varieties of hot sauce and a chili crisp. Chefs Jonathan Kastner and Tyler Braun turned their love of hot foods into a business in 2022. The two friends and restaurant industry pros teamed up to make pepper-powered products with a distinction – they’re fermented. “We are one of the only hot-sauce makers in Alabama doing fermentation, and ours usually have a younger fermentation, which gives them really fun, funky sour notes that stand up and standout against the heat,” Kastner says. “They’re really well-rounded with just a bit of vinegar.” The fermentation process adds a layer of flavor, but it also adds to the work. “We do a lot of research and development, a lot of experimentation, to get it just right,” Braun says. “That’s why ‘lab’ is in our name. We constantly measure ph and other factors,” Kastner adds. The first sauce the Lab sold went through 35 versions before it the duo declared it “done.” All sauces and the chili crisp are made from a red jalapeno ferment with onions, garlic, carrots and Trepani sea salt. The chili crisp — the Lab’s best-selling product — is actually made from the hot sauce mash after it’s dehydrated. “That way, we don’t waste anything, and it gives the crisp a better flavor,” Kastner says. Get some at southernchililab.com.
Folks fawn over Hornsby Farms sweet jams and jellies made from the fruits (literally and figuratively) of Auburn farmers Josh and Beth Hornsby’s labors. But the farms’ spicy pepper jellies have loyal fans too. Beth is the lead jelly maker, and she pairs chili peppers with berries and other produce to create flavor combos like peach-habanero, blackberry-jalapeno and raspberry-ghost pepper. For the super popular Sweet Heat variety, she mixes strawberries with jalapenos. They all boast a well-balanced heat that won’t burn but adds a noticeable kick. Grab yours at hornsbyfarms.com.
Salty and tangy with a little sweet and a nice punch of spice, Wickles Pickles are “wickedly delicious.” Based in Dadeville and made in Brundidge, this pickle purveyor relies on a decades-old family recipe to create pickled products including traditional pickles, okra, pepper strips and jalapenos. Get some at grocery stores around Alabama or order at wicklespickles.com.
Good & Good for You
Gobble up this good news: Spicy foods do more than delight (and ignite!) your tastebuds; they’re good for your health too. They fight inflammation, speed up your metabolism, can kill bacteria and may even combat cancer. A recent UCLA study showed capsaicin (the heat-inducing component in chili peppers) stunted the growth of prostate cancer cells in mice. There’s also some evidence that spicy foods can improve your heart health, thanks to their ability to break down fats in food.