South Carolina Man Grows World’s Hottest Pepper
If you like a little heat to your food, a South Carolina man has the heat for you. Ed Currie of Fort Mill has just grown the world’s hottest pepper.
Just how hot is it? Currie has broken his own world record with a pepper that is three times hotter. It’s called Pepper X and the Guinness Book of World Records says it is THE hottest pepper in the world. Currie is not a stranger to producing hot peppers. His earlier work was the Carolina Reaper which he describes as “immediate and brutal heat.”
So, just how did Currie create the world’s hottest pepper? Currie says he crossbred the Carolina Reaper with another pepper to create Pepper X. He’s careful not to give away his secret. And believe it or not, many have tried he says to figure out his method.
To put the level of heat in perspective, heat peppers are measured in Scoville Heat Units. Bland is zero and a regular jalapeno pepper registers at about 5,000 units. A dash of habanero pepper is close to 100,000 units. And the Carolina Reaper, the pepper Currie created earlier, comes in at 1.64 million units. And Pepper X is considered hotter than that!
Currie, of course, has tasted the Pepper X. He says, “I was feeling the heat for three-and-a-half hours. Then the cramps came.” So far, Currie is one of five people who has tried to eat an entire Pepper X. He says it’s brutal and it had him laid out flat in the rain for an hour. Oddly enough, Currie can’t seem to keep the peppers in stock.
Plant-Based BBQ: 5 Savory Meat Alternatives For The Grill
Grilled Veggies
The star of the show at a vegetarian BBQ is often the assortment of grilled vegetables. The vegetables are typically marinated or brushed with flavorful sauces or herbs before being cooked on the grill. A yummy veggie to throw on the grill would be zucchini with a drizzle of Italian seasonings, olive oil, and lemon juice. Another option would be grilled garlic mushrooms with a bit of garlic and balsamic vinegar or grilled cabbage with a tandoori marinade.
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Veggie Burgers
A vegetarian BBQ often features a variety of veggie burger options. These burgers can be made from ingredients like black beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, or even grilled portobello mushrooms. They are typically served on buns and topped with condiments, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and vegetarian-friendly sauces.
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Planted Based Sausages & Hot Dogs
To mimic the classic BBQ experience, plant-based sausages, and hot dogs are popular additions to a BBQ. These meatless alternatives are made from ingredients like soy, tofu, seitan, or vegetables and are grilled until they’re charred on the outside.
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Grilled Tofu & Tempeh
Tofu and tempeh are versatile plant-based protein sources. You can marinate and grill them at BBQs. Tofu can be marinated in a variety of sauces or spices to add flavor. While tempeh, a fermented soybean product, has a naturally nutty taste.
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Grilled Fruit Desserts
Fruits like pineapple, peaches, watermelon, and bananas are often grilled to bring out their natural sweetness and enhance their flavors. They can also be served as-is or paired with a scoop of vegan ice cream. A fruit that would go perfectly on the grill is pineapple. You can create a rum-glazed pineapple if you’re feeling ambitious. Just marinate your pineapple in dark spiced rum and brown sugar before putting it on the grill.
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