45 Asian Recipes That Will Elevate Your Spicy Food Game

From hot curries to mouth-tingling soups and sauces that leave you with bee-stung lips, Asian food can be super spicy. The heat can be subtle, warm up through layers of spices, or be knock-your-socks-off strong. Something about cooking cuisine from Asia brings many home cooks to their happy place in the kitchen. As woks sizzle and broths bubble, the aroma of Thai chilis, Indian garam masala, and Chinese Sichuan peppercorns permeate the air. Asian dishes can be flash-fried in a matter of minutes for a weekday wonder or left to marinade and simmer for a hot date or a cool dinner party. It's deeply enjoyable to balance the flavors of Japanese or Korean dishes to create just the right level of spiciness. If you love the flavors from this part of the world, you'll likely appreciate this collection of 45 recipes, which can all elevate your spicy food game. 

Most of the time spent making this spectacularly fiery Indian classic is while it marinates and cooks in your Crock Pot. That means that it's not overly complex to make. A good vindaloo recipe is a must for any spicy food lover. If you want to tone down the heat from one of the hottest curries, use fewer chilis — and don't add any cayenne pepper. You can also thicken the curry on the stove if needed. Serve it with a cooling spoonful of yogurt and some fresh coriander (cilantro) on top.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Vindaloo

Thai curry soups promise creamy spiciness — and they're often hotter than you might imagine. Coconut milk can hold back some heat, but it's usually not long before red curry paste and ginger tastes shine through. Toasted sesame oil, aniseed-tasting Thai basil, lime juice, and coriander create a warming Asian broth that's sweet, sour, and spicy. Add chicken or shrimp to give the soup a protein boost or soft cubes of tofu for a plant-based meal. Be careful not to overcook the noodles, and serve with red pepper flakes and chopped scallions. 

Recipe: Thai Curry Soup

"Stir-Fry Guru" and cookbook author Grace Young helped bring Chinese cuisine to United States homes. Chili garlic sauce and ginger add heat to the chicken, bell peppers, and bok choy in this recipe. Spice is subtly balanced with umami notes of sherry, plummy hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sweetness from sugar and ketchup. Check if your wok is hot enough with a drop of water: At the right temperature, it will bounce and disappear almost immediately.

Recipe: Grace Young's Spicy Ginger Chicken With Peppers And Baby Bok Choy

There's a misconception that many Asian dishes are complex, time-consuming, and contain specialty or tough-to-find ingredients. If you've never made this spicy dip from Persia before, you'll wonder why you didn't make it sooner. The spice in muhammara comes from cumin, red pepper flakes, and smoked paprika. While there are quite a few ingredients in the recipe, all you have to do is blend them in a food processor. Aside from the heat, roasted red peppers straight from the jar pack extra flavor. This dip is particularly delicious when served with a warm pita.

Recipe: Easy Muhammara

Chances are, you don't have a tandoor oven at home. However, you can still make one of the most renowned, succulently spicy Asian chicken dishes. This is also a great dish to test your homemade garam masala. You don't have to use red food coloring, but doing so helps emulate the traditional rich color this dish is known to boast. Make sure your baking tray is fully covered with foil and cook the chicken over a wire rack placed over the tray to create a smoky tandoor flavor while it cooks.

Recipe: Easy Tandoori Chicken

If you haven't discovered the delights of tteokbokki, you're in for a treat. The Korean equivalent of pasta, these sticky, stodgy rice cakes need to soak beforehand. When you get to cooking them, it's up to you whether you want them al dente or super-soft and chewy. Korean chili sauce and gochujang pair perfectly to add some much-needed spice. How much or little you add is up to you — and how hot you like your food. Serve with leeks and white and black sesame seeds on top.

Recipe: Zesty Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake)

You may associate curries with Indian and Thai cuisine — but those aren't the only countries to feature it. This beef curry recipe is a comfort food popular in Japan. Be prepared for it to become a weekday favorite. You'll need Golden Curry cubes for this dish, which you might only find at Asian grocers. However, they're essential for making the sauce. Its flavor is akin to a British chip shop-style curry sauce and — along with a milder heat — delivers a sweet note from apples. Serve this curry with rice.

Recipe: Easy Japanese Beef Curry

The spices, as well as how the ingredients combine, give Asian dishes such distinctive flavor profiles. Often, proteins can be interchanged — and this recipe is perfect for plant-based food lovers and carnivores alike. Maple syrup, soy sauce, and sesame oil make the glaze sticky, with rice vinegar and Sriracha adding a tangy spice. Serve with rice or turn it into a Buddha bowl by adding avocado, steamed bok choy, tofu, red cabbage, and shelled edamame. Imagine the colors of this vegetable-heavy combination alone!  

Recipe: Sticky Sesame Cauliflower

Perhaps one of India's most beloved curries, the heat of a good tikka masala contains depth without being overpowering. This recipe calls for heavy cream, but you can use coconut milk instead. It's important to note that you should cook off your spice mix of ground ginger, cinnamon, and garam masala before adding tomatoes. If you want to reduce the dish's overall spiciness, remove the seeds from the serrano peppers. Work out your timing so that when it's ready, you have fresh rice and doughy naan bread to serve alongside it.

Recipe: Simple Chicken Tikka Masala

This Asian-style hot sauce, which is remarkably good with spring rolls, takes inspiration from England: Colman's dry mustard powder is one of three ingredients needed for this super-hot dipping sauce. Aside from boiling water, you only need salt, oil, and mustard. Use a neutral-tasting oil, such as avocado or vegetable oil, that won't compete with the simplicity of the heat: It brings out the power of the mustard. Traditional Asian appetizers like wontons, egg rolls, or breaded shrimp are often served with this homemade dip.

Recipe: Copycat Chinese Imperial Palace Hot Mustard

If you think every curry needs to be made with tons of fresh ingredients, you haven't tried this recipe yet. Everything you need comes from either the cupboard or freezer. And because it's quick to make, it can elevate your spicy food game without much planning. This recipe uses mild curry powder, but since some like it hotter, feel free to raise the heat with a spicier curry. Reduce the starchiness by shelling the chickpeas, but if you're pressed for time, you can skip it — and the dish becomes even less fussy. 

Recipe: Easy Chickpea Curry

One of the most-eaten dishes in Thailand, no matter the time of day, this dish offers a palate-pleasing sweet heat. Thai basil, which tastes different from the Italian variety, adds an aniseed-like flavor that enhances its overall spiciness. Thinly-sliced red chilis are sautéed to release heat, then balanced with coconut sugar. One of the best ways to serve this spicy meat dish is with some rice to ensure its flavor isn't too intense. If you're very hungry, serve this dish in the traditional style: topped with a fried egg. 

Recipe: Thai Basil Pork

Kung Pao Chicken is a Chinese classic and a must-learn recipe for Asian food lovers. Crushed red pepper flakes and Sriracha, a Thai hot sauce, add layers of heat to balance the sweetness of hoisin sauce, mirin, and brown sugar. Soy sauce adds saltiness and a touch of balsamic vinegar adds acidity. The aromatics of garlic, ginger, and green onions are an irresistible combo, peanuts add some crunch, and the chicken tastes even more succulent in this richly flavorful sauce. Serve with rice and toasted sesame seeds.

Recipe: Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken

Don't you love a tasty upgrade for packet noodles? If you can't get enough of ramen noodles and adore spicy Asian food, this is the dish for you. Forget the seasoning sachet your noodles come with: Make the coating that defines this dish from chili garlic sauce and chili oil. To elevate it further, flavorful chicken thighs and lots of fresh, vibrantly colored veggies round out this dish. Use baby bok choy if available, or regular if not, and add whatever mushrooms you prefer. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and cilantro to serve. 

Recipe: Spicy Noodles

The thought of pan-fried shrimp in honey, soy sauce, and Sriracha could make any Asian food lover's mouth water. If you don't have any Sriracha for this recipe, you could make your own Sriracha. Adding more sauce ratchets up the heat, and if you want to feel an extra sting, add a red chili into the pan, too. Quick and easy to make, serve with fluffy rice for a classic main course, or create a lighter bite or appetizer with some salad or garlic flatbread. 

Recipe: Spicy Shrimp Bowl

A flavorful curry sauce turns this simple dish into a winner-winner chicken dinner for anyone who tries it. There's also no issue turning this meat dish vegetarian if you swap tofu or cauliflower for chicken. By using curry powder and garam masala, which blend myriad spices, you can achieve many flavors with a couple of shakes. If you like a greater depth of flavor, use extra seasoning over the meat — or veggies — you choose. Also, don't forget to shake or stir your coconut milk if it is separated before use. 

Recipe: Chicken Curry

When you crave the slow-simmered warmth of a curry but don't want a big kick, Thai massaman curry is the ultimate Asian food antidote. This dish is rich, full-bodied, and tastes like a stew cooked with ample spices. The fact that this is a slow cooker recipe makes it even more appealing, as it's simply a case of adding all the ingredients into one pot and letting your gadget work its magic. Beef, broth, and coconut cream combine to create a velvety, fragrant curry perfect for a hearty weeknight meal.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Massaman Curry

Chili paste, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and rice vinegar create all the right umami flavors for this superb Chinese dish. Broccoli florets and red bell pepper are appetizingly colorful, and chicken gets a crispy coating from dredging the pieces in cornflour before frying. A recipe with a little kick that isn't from India or Thailand makes a welcome change, too, especially if these are your go-to cuisines. For its spicy flavor, a chili paste such as sambal oelek works wonders in this dish by adding in the real taste of fresh chilis.

Recipe: Spicy Hunan Chicken

If you're put off by the number of different spices in this dish, nobody will call you out for using a pre-mixed biryani paste. Make sure not to add all your marinated chicken to the pan at once so it doesn't curdle. Also, feel free to add a few veggies if you prefer. Use saffron if you can because, even though it can be expensive, you don't need a lot. Fry onions for a crunchy, traditional topping. Or, if that sounds a bit greasy, toss in the pre-fried ones that come in a tub. 

Recipe: Chicken Biryani

If you've ever eaten good butter chicken, you'll likely have found the buttery, heavy cream sauce and warm spices a divine combination. This Indian dish only hints at being spicy, yet it's still tasty, making it a fantastic recipe for serving a group where some like less heat than others. Even better is how easy it is to make a big batch in your slow cooker, and you don't need any hard-to-source ingredients, either. Ground ginger, turmeric, cumin, and chili powder add flavor along with curry powder. 

Recipe: Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

This plant-based curry is a jewel in the crown of Indian cuisine and comes served with a fruity golden raisin and diced pineapple topping. One fresh green chili creates a kick, and garam masala, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, and turmeric inspire iconic Indian curry flavors. Add different vegetables if you like for this recipe: This makes it a perfect dish for days when you've got a selection of veggies to use in the fridge. Few things are more enjoyable than sopping up this creamy coconut milk-based sauce with pillowy-soft naan.

Recipe: Best Navratan Korma

What's satisfying about this coconut milk soup is how every ingredient stands out and can be tasted individually. The effect is a deliciously distinctive, delicate broth that's perfect when served with rice and other Thai dishes. The flavors connect seamlessly with lemongrass and ginger, which tie into the chicken and mushrooms. Instead of frying chopped chilis, halve them and add to the broth to infuse it for just a few minutes. This creates a gentler heat which, against the creaminess, delivers enough of a kick.

Recipe: Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)