Sauce Builder
Brooklyn Heat
Calabrian chili, garlic, fennel. Arrabbiata in a bag.
About this blend
Brooklyn Heat is for people who want heat that tastes like something, not just burn. Calabrian-style red pepper, garlic, fennel, and tomato powder bloom into a serious arrabbiata or a chili oil with real character. The fennel is what keeps it from being one-note. The tomato powder makes it red and rich before you've added a single other thing.
What's in it
Ingredients listed. Ratios are ours to know.
- Red pepper flakes (Calabrian-style)
- Granulated garlic
- Dried oregano
- Tomato powder
- Fennel seed, cracked
- Flaky sea salt
- Onion powder
How to build the sauce
Three ways to use Brooklyn Heat as a base. The rest is up to you.
Arrabbiata
Heat 3 tbsp olive oil, add 2 tsp Brooklyn Heat. Bloom 60 seconds. Add one 28oz can crushed tomatoes, a pinch of sugar. Simmer 15 minutes. Toss with rigatoni. No parm. It doesn't need it.
Brooklyn chili oil
Slowly heat ½ cup neutral oil to 275°F. Remove from heat, add 1 tbsp Brooklyn Heat. Let steep 20 minutes. Bottle it. Spoon it on everything.
Spicy egg base
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil, bloom 1 tsp Brooklyn Heat. Add crushed tomatoes, simmer 5 minutes. Crack in 2–3 eggs, cover, cook until whites are just set. Serve with toast.
What to make with it
Six starting points. None of them are rules.
Arrabbiata Pasta
The core use. Bloom in olive oil, add tomatoes, ten minutes. The fennel makes it more than just heat.
Spicy Pizza Base
Mix into olive oil and use as the pizza sauce base. Add fresh mozzarella, bake hot and fast.
Shakshuka
Build the tomato base with Brooklyn Heat. Crack in eggs, cover, cook until whites are set. Finish with feta and herbs.
Spicy Shrimp
Bloom in butter, toss in shrimp. Two minutes. Serve over rice or pasta or on toast with a squeeze of lemon.
Crispy Potatoes
Toss cubed potatoes with the chili oil version. Roast at 450°F until blistered. Serve with aioli.
Chili Toast
Make the chili oil. Spoon generously over thick toast with a soft-boiled egg and flaky salt.
Ten recipes to start with
Every one feeds four. Use them as written or go off-script, that's the point.
3 tbsp olive oil · 2 tsp Brooklyn Heat · 1 can (28oz) crushed tomatoes · pinch sugar · 1 lb rigatoni
- Bloom the blend in oil 60 seconds, add tomatoes and sugar.
- Simmer 15 minutes, toss with rigatoni. No parm, it doesn't need it.
1/2 cup neutral oil · 1 tbsp Brooklyn Heat
- Heat the oil to 275F, pull it off the heat, then stir in the blend.
- Steep 20 minutes and bottle it. Put it on everything.
1 tbsp olive oil · 2 tsp Brooklyn Heat · 1 can (28oz) crushed tomatoes · 6 eggs · feta
- Bloom the blend in oil, add tomatoes, simmer 8 minutes.
- Make wells, crack in the eggs, cover and cook until just set.
- Finish with feta and herbs, scoop with bread.
1 lb shrimp · 3 tbsp butter · 1 1/2 tsp Brooklyn Heat · lemon
- Melt butter, bloom the blend 30 seconds.
- Add shrimp, two minutes a side, finish with lemon over rice, pasta, or toast.
1 can (15oz) crushed tomatoes · 1 tbsp olive oil · 2 tsp Brooklyn Heat · 1 lb dough · mozzarella
- Stir the blend and oil into the tomatoes, no cooking needed.
- Spread on stretched dough, top with mozzarella, bake at 500F until charred.
2 lb potatoes · 3 tbsp Brooklyn chili oil · flaky salt
- Toss cubed potatoes with the chili oil from card two.
- Roast at 450F for 35 minutes until blistered, hit with flaky salt. Aioli on the side.
4 thick slices bread · Brooklyn chili oil · 4 soft-boiled eggs · flaky salt
- Toast the bread, spoon the chili oil over generously.
- Top each with a halved soft egg and flaky salt.
2 tsp Brooklyn Heat · 3 tbsp tomato paste · 2 tbsp vodka · 1/2 cup cream · 1 lb pasta
- Bloom the blend and paste in oil, deglaze with the vodka.
- Stir in cream, simmer 5 minutes, toss with pasta and a splash of pasta water.
2 bunches broccoli rabe or kale · 2 tbsp olive oil · 1 tsp Brooklyn Heat · garlic
- Bloom the blend with sliced garlic in oil.
- Add the greens with a splash of water, cover, cook until tender.
2 tsp Brooklyn Heat · 1 can (28oz) tomatoes · 2 cups stock · splash cream
- Bloom the blend in oil, add tomatoes and stock, simmer 15 minutes.
- Blend smooth, swirl in cream. Grilled cheese mandatory.
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