Help! How to Introduce Spicy Hot Dishes to Non-Adventurous Eaters?

Question: “What would be the best way to introduce spicy hot dishes to non-adventurous eaters?” Colin, MA.

Editor: With people who aren’t used to such spicy food, you have to slowly build up the heat. You can start with something like pureed chiles topped with a sweet fruit like mango. Sugar will tame down the heat, and it’s a taste people are comfortable with. Then you can work your way up to hotter dishes.

(Image by Karyn Christner, Creative Common)