As a food lover, food challenges have become a part of my journey to discover new flavours, cuisines, and cooking techniques. Participating in food challenges has helped me push my culinary boundaries and explore new horizons. They can be a fun and exciting way to learn more about food, connect with other food enthusiasts, and challenge yourself to become a better cook.
From spicy to sweet, these challenges are all about pushing your taste buds to the limit and having a little fun in the process. So, whether you’re looking to spice things up or satisfy your sweet tooth, there’s a food challenge out there for everyone.
Some Like it Spicy
Let’s start with the classic spicy food challenge. For those who love a little heat, this challenge is all about testing your tolerance for spice. One popular spicy food challenge is the Carolina Reaper Challenge. This involves eating the world’s hottest pepper, the Carolina Reaper. With a Scoville rating of over 2 million, this pepper is not for the faint at heart. But if you’re up for the challenge, it’s sure to be a memorable experience.
Another popular spicy food challenge is the Hot Chicken Challenge. Originating in Nashville, this challenge involves eating a plate of extra spicy hot chicken. The heat level can vary depending on the restaurant, but it’s usually pretty intense. If you’re brave enough to take on this challenge, be sure to have plenty of water and milk on hand to cool down your taste buds.
If you’re a fan of ramen, then the Spicy Ramen Challenge might be right up your alley. This challenge involves eating a bowl of super spicy ramen noodles in a certain amount of time. The level of spiciness can vary, but it’s usually pretty intense. Some restaurants even have a wall of fame for those who complete the challenge. Just be prepared for a serious case of the sweats!
Some like it Sweet
For those with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of sugar rush challenges to try. One popular challenge is the Doughnut Challenge. This involves eating as many doughnuts as you can in a set amount of time. Some challenges have a time limit of 10 minutes, while others might give you an hour to finish. It’s a fun challenge.
Cooking is “Challenging”!
Fifty-Two Weeks of Cooking Challenge: The 52 Weeks of Cooking Challenge is a fantastic way to expand your culinary repertoire and experiment with new ingredients and cooking techniques. The idea behind the challenge is simple: each week, participants are given a theme or ingredient that they must incorporate into a meal. For example, one week’s theme might be “One-Pot Meals,” while another might be “Comfort Food.” Participants can choose to interpret the theme however they like, and they can use any cooking method or cuisine.
This challenge is great because it forces you to think creatively and come up with unique recipes that fit the theme. It’s also a great way to build a portfolio of recipes that you can use.
30 Days of Raw Challenge: The 30 Days of Raw Challenge is a more extreme challenge, but it can be a great way to improve your health and try new ingredients. The idea behind the challenge is to eat only raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds for 30 days. This means no cooked food, no processed food, and no meat or dairy.
This challenge can be tough, especially if you’re used to a diet that includes a lot of cooked food. However, it can also be a great way to detox your body and improve your digestion. Raw food is rich in enzymes, which can help your body break down food more efficiently. Additionally, raw food is often more nutrient-dense than cooked food, so you’ll be getting more vitamins and minerals from your meals.
The 30 Days of Raw Challenge can be a great way to explore new ingredients and flavour combinations. Raw food can be incredibly flavourful, and there are many ways to make it interesting and delicious. It can also be a great way to challenge yourself to come up with creative recipes that don’t require cooking.
Meal from Every Country Challenge: The Meal from Every Country Challenge is a fun way to explore different cuisines from around the world. The idea behind the challenge is to cook a meal from every country in the world. This can be a daunting task, but it’s also a great way to learn about different cultures and ingredients. To participate in this challenge, you’ll need to do some research on different cuisines and ingredients. You’ll also need to be willing to try new things and experiment with flavours and cooking techniques. This challenge can be a great way to expand your culinary horizons and discover new ingredients and dishes that you may not have tried before.
The Meal from Every Country Challenge can be a great way to learn about different cuisines and share your experiences.
Meatless Monday: Meatless Monday is a simple challenge that encourages participants to go meat-free for one day a week. This challenge can be a great way to experiment with plant-based ingredients and create delicious meat-free recipes. It can also be a fabulous way to promote healthy eating and sustainability.
Come Dine with Me Challenge: Come Dine with Me Challenge, on the other hand, is a fun and social challenge that involves hosting a dinner party for friends and family. This challenge can be a great way to showcase your culinary skills and entertain your guests. It can also be a great way to network and meet other food enthusiasts.
Taste Challenges!
I love participating in fun food challenges. These challenges are a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone, explore new cuisines, and improve your culinary skills. Here are some of my favourite fun food challenges:
The Blindfolded Taste Test Challenge: In this challenge, participants blindfold themselves and try to identify different foods just by taste. It’s a fun way to challenge your taste buds and see how well you know your food.
The Iron Chef Challenge/ The Mystery Box Challenge: Inspired by the popular TV show, the Iron Chef Challenge and the Mystery Box challenge involves cooking a meal using a surprise ingredient. It’s a great way to test your creativity and culinary skills.
The 24-Hour Restaurant Challenge: In this challenge, you have 24 hours to create a restaurant concept and menu, and then open for business. It’s a fun way to test your creativity and entrepreneurial skills.
Overall, food challenges are a great way to have fun with food and improve your culinary skills. They can also be a great way to connect with other food enthusiasts and share your love of food.
FIVE-MINUTE MANGO SPINACH SALAD
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/2 shallot finely minced
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Salt and black pepper to taste
5 to 6 cups spinach
1.5 cups sliced mango
1/3 cup pine nuts toasted
1/2 shallot thinly sliced
Instructions:
Wash spinach well under running water , gently dry them.
Add sesame seeds into a small pan and cook over medium heat. When the pan turns hot, turn to medium low heat.
Stir and cook the sesame seeds until they turn slightly golden. Transfer to a plate and spread to cool.
Add the pine nuts into the same pan. Toast and stir until both sides turn golden brown.
Transfer to another plate to cool. Mix all the ingredients for the dressing in a small jar. Shake to combine.
Add all the ingredients for the salad into a large bowl.
Add half of the dressing right before serving.
Gently toss it with both hands to coat the salad evenly with dressing.
MANGO SPINACH SALAD
MY QUICK BEETROOT, BROCCOLI COUSCOUS SALAD
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups boiled couscous
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 medium cucumber, diced
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh herbs; use any combination of fresh parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, or mint
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 cup raisins, we love golden raisins
Instructions:
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain.
While the couscous cooks, in a large bowl, whisk the oil, mustard, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
Add the drained couscous to the dressing and mix well.
Stir in the cucumber, tomato, herbs, walnuts and raisins.
Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and/or pepper as needed.
Enjoy warm or cover then refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour
BEETROOT, BROCCOLI COUSCOUS SALAD
If you have taken a food challenge you’ve loved, please write to us at vidisha@paprika.net
Author is the founder of Paprika Gourmet, an exotic artisan catering service brand in Calcutta. She’s also a passionate foodie and a fitness enthusiast