11 Ways to Use Habanero Peppers

Homemade Spicy Hot Sauce

I created this spicy recipe one day using what I had available from my garden: hot peppers, carrots, onions and garlic. The carrots make this recipe stand out. —Carolyn Wheel, Fairfax, Vermont

Habanero Strawberry Jam

I love spicy and sweet dishes! This tastes excellent layered over a bar of cream cheese and served with crackers, or you can slather it on a toasted English muffin. Yum! —Sarah Gilbert, Aloha, Oregon

Jerk-Spiced Mango Pineapple Chutney

I grew up eating mango, pineapple and spicy food, so enjoy the combination of these flavors. I try to make this chutney during the summer when the fruit is most flavorful and affordable. It's fine to adjust the spiciness according to your liking. You can serve this with any meat, but also with fish, such as salmon.—Sugiyarti Jorgenson, Kodiak, Alaska

Easy Ropa Vieja Stew

Use your slow cooker for this meaty Cuban classic, which offers bold flavors without a lot of hands-on time. —Denise Nyland, Panama City, Florida

Roast Beef Caribbean Style

This recipe took first place in the 2011 South Dakota Beef Cook-Off. Cooking the roast uncovered for the first 30 minutes gives it a crusty exterior similar to barbecued brisket, and the flavorful sauce adds just a hint of heat. —Susan Patrick Watertown, SD

Chunky Salsa

This fresh-tasting salsa is wonderfully chunky. If you like it hotter, add more habanero peppers; if you prefer a mild salsa, add fewer or replace with jalapenos.—Dana Hayes, Canton, Ohio

Pomegranate Pepper Jelly

Stirring pomegranate juice into my jalapeno jelly creates a beautiful red version for the holidays. Spread it on crackers, fish or poultry. My husband even uses it as a dip for Mexican food! —Katherine Metz, Sharpsburg, GA

Caribbean Grilled Ribeyes

I made this mind-blowing steak with my father-in-law in mind. He loved it, and so did everyone else. You can serve it as part of all types of meals, but it's especially good alongside seafood. —De'Lawrence Reed, Durham, North Carolina

Sue’s Spicy Tomato Basil Tortellini

A friend remarked about a similar baked tortellini dish at a restaurant, so I wanted to try re-creating it for her at home. My stovetop version makes it weeknight easy. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida