Spicy Summer Gift Basket

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A spicy summer gift basket for your BBQ host - featuring homemade spicy cocktails, fresh strawberry salsa, and a spicy chicken enchilada dip. The perfect summer gift for foodies who like things spicy!

We’ve been enjoying our summer bbq’s at my brother’s house and I try to bring over a gift or dish every time as a bit of a host gift, and also to expand his cooking reportoire. I’m a bit more of a foodie than he is (and I’ve been at this cooking thing a bit longer) so I love being able to share some of my favorites with him.

Recently, Ella and I put together this Spicy Summer Gift Basket complete with two spicy cocktails, 3 of our favorite hot sauces, some fresh strawberry salsa, and a Chicken Enchilada dip to enjoy as we were waiting for the food on the grill.

spicy gift basket (1)

I first shared my love of El Yucateco® with readers last year with my Smoky Habanero Chicken recipe (and it is seen on the blog often) so I was really excited when they agreed to work together to develop this gift for my brother. It really is my favorite brand of hot sauce and if you’re a fan, I guarantee you’ll love it, too!

El Yucateco® is available nationwide. For my brother’s gift basket I picked up the:

  • Green Chile Habanero
  • Red Chile Habanero
  • Black Label Reserve Hot Sauce

While the Black Label Reserve is my favorite (smoky and earthy without the sweetness of a chipotle sauce), I wanted my brother to be able to decide for himself and featured each of the sauces in one of the recipe below.

To give you an idea as to the differences, El Yucateco® Green Habanero Hot Sauce is made with fresh green habanero peppers, garlic, select spices and seasonings. This sauce packs a little more heat then the red habanero but has less vinegar then the average hot sauce. The El Yucateco® Red Habanero Sauce is made red habanero peppers, tomato, and select spices and seasonings – it’s more of an “all purpose” sauce.”

 

El Yucateco® is giving entrants the chance to win a one-of-a-kind custom designed surfboard, camping packages and MORE!

El Yucateco Go-Native Sweepstakes

spicy gift basket

Putting the cocktails in mason jars was a great way to make them portable and ready-to-drink at the same time. I brought along some cayenne pepper and limes for garnish, but the drinks could have been enjoyed straight from the jars.

The basket liner doubled as a set of napkins, and I also included recipe cards for all of the drinks and treats that we brought in case he’d like to recreate them on his own.

chicken enchilada dip recipe

Chicken Enchilada Dip Recipe

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

  • 3 chicken legs
  • 1-8oz package cream cheese
  • 1/2 can golden hominy, or corn (can use full can)
  • 1 cup red enchilada sauce (if you can’t find this, tomato sauce with cumin, salt and pepper is a quick substitute)
  • 1/2 cup queso fresco cheese, crumbled
  • 1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
  • 2-4 Tablespoons El Yucateco® Red Chile Habanero sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, for garnish
  • 1/4 cup green Mexican sauce (chile-based)

Place the chicken legs in a saucepan and cover with the red enchilada sauce. Cook over medium heat until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F – about 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Mix the cheeses minus 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, hominy, and green Mexican sauce together and set aside.

When the chicken is fully cooked, shred the meat from the bones and add the meat to the cheese blend. Pour in the remaining red enchilada sauce (or add 1/2 cup new sauce. Season with the El Yucateco® Red Chile Habanero sauce, adding a Tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired level of heat and flavor. (We ended up with closer to 6 Tablespoons because we really love it.)

Place the dip in a large casserole dish and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 22-30 minutes until cheese is completely melted.

Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

strawberry salsa recipe

Strawberry Salsa Recipe

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 2 Tablespoons El Yucateco® Green Chile Habanero hot sauce
  • 1/2 small onion
  • Large handful cilantro
  • 2 Tablespoons lime juice
  • Salt and pepper, optional and to taste

Mix all of the strawberry salsa ingredients together and let the flavors mingle.

You can enjoy it fresh, or for days afterwards!

spicy mango cocktail

Spicy Mango Cocktail Recipe

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

  • 2 cups mango juice
  • 2 cups sparkling water
  • 2 Tablespoons El Yucateco® Red Chile Habanero sauce
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1 cup vodka (or tequila)
  • Limes, for garnish
  • Cayenne pepper, for garnish

To make the cocktail, shake the mango juice, water, hot sauce, lime juice and vodka together with ice.

Prepare the glass by rubbing a cut lime over the edge of the glass and dipping it in some cayenne pepper. This lets your guest know to expect some heat!

Add some ice to each glass and strain the mango cocktail over the ice.

Garnish with the lime and serve.

spicy gift basket (2)

Are you a fan of spicy food? Do you have someone in your life who would appreciate a spicy summer gift basket?

Be sure to enter the El Yucateco® sweepstakes above and pin this gift basket for later!

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