Know Your Chillis: Everything You Need to Know About Cooking with Chillis

Chillis carry colour, aroma, heat, and personality. From the smokiness in curries to the bright punch in chutneys, chillis have shaped Indian cuisine for centuries. Whether you're experimenting with chillis for the first time or perfecting your family's traditional recipes, understanding chillis is the key to unlocking their full flavour.

This guide explores the world of chillis from an Indian kitchen's perspective—how to choose, cook, store, and balance their flavour and heat.

Knowing the Types, Heat Levels & Flavour Profiles of Chillis

The Scoville Heat Scale measures the capsaicin level in chillis and determines their spiciness. Here are some popular Indian chillis:

• Kashmiri Red Chilli: Bright red colour and mild heat.
• Byadgi Chilli: Deep red, slightly smoky, mild heat.
• Guntur Chilli: Fiery, bold, widely used in South India.
• Bird’s Eye Chilli: Sharp, intensely hot.
• Naga / Bhut Jolokia: One of the hottest chillis in the world.

Understanding flavour and heat makes it easier to choose the right chilli for each dish.

The Art of Cooking with Chillis

Chillis influence a dish in three key ways: heat, colour, and flavour. They can be used fresh, dried, powdered, roasted, fried, or blended depending on the dish.

• Fresh Chillis: Add instant heat and grassy freshness—great for tadkas, stir-fries, chutneys.
• Dried Chillis: Add depth and smoky aroma—perfect for curries, gravies.
• Chilli Powder: For consistent heat and colour.
  Example: Three Mango Chilli Powder for everyday Indian cooking.

Essential Indian Chilli Cooking Tips

1. Tempering (Tadka): Adding fresh or dried chillis to hot oil infuses their heat and aroma.
2. Roasting: Dry-roasting reduces bitterness and creates smoky notes—great for homemade masalas.
3. Hydrating Dried Chillis: Soak to soften before grinding into pastes for curries/chutneys.
4. Pairing with Other Spices: Combine chillis with garlic, cumin, coriander, pepper, fenugreek for richer flavour.
5. Removing Seeds: Deseed when you need less heat without losing flavour.

Popular Chilli-Based Dishes Across India

1. Spicy Indian Curries: Laal Maas, Chettinad dishes—built around deep chilli flavours.
2. Chilli Chutneys: Red chilli–garlic, green chilli, Andhra pachadis.
3. Spice Blends: Chillis are key in masalas like garam masala, rasam powder, sambar powder.
4. Pickles: Whole green chilli pickles or Three Mango Red Chilli Pickle for an extra-spicy twist.

Key Health Benefits of Eating Chillis

• Boost metabolism through capsaicin.
• Support digestion.
• Release mood-enhancing endorphins.
• Improve blood circulation.
• Enhance immunity with antioxidants.

How to Choose the Right Chilli for Your Dish

• For bright red colour: Use Swastik Kashmiri Chilli Powder or Byadgi.
• For intense heat: Choose Guntur or Bird’s Eye.
• For balanced heat + colour: Mix mild & hot powders like Swastik Chilli Powder + Laal Kadak.
• For smoky flavour: Roast dried chillis lightly before using.

How to Handle, Store & Prepare Chillis Safely

• Handling: Use gloves for very hot chillis and avoid touching face/eyes.
• Storage:
  • Fresh chillis → airtight bags in fridge.
  • Dried chillis → cool, dark, airtight containers.
  • Chilli powder → away from heat to preserve colour & aroma.
• Preparation:
  • Remove seeds for milder dishes.
  • Toast dried chillis to enhance aroma.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to reduce the heat of fresh chillis?
Remove seeds or soak sliced chillis in cold water. Cooking longer, or adding coconut milk/ghee also reduces heat.

2. Are chillis healthy?
Yes! They boost metabolism, aid digestion, reduce inflammation, and release mood-boosting endorphins.

3. Can dried chillis replace fresh ones?
Yes, but the flavour changes. Dried chillis are smokier while fresh chillis are sharper and brighter.