Not discounting your personal experience, but the science says otherwise. According to the science, opposite tastes enhance each other. That’s why you have certain combinations that are present in all cusines. The thing is that the way human brain works is that it reacts to sudden changes in the environment stronger than gradual changes. That’s why you sweat after you come out of the cold shower, or feel the adrenalin rush in a roller coaster. Your brain senses the sudden change in temperature/elevation and goes “Emergency! Emergency!” The same goes for taste too. When you add a little bit of sugar to something hot, the sugar tickles your taste buds and sends a “sweet” signal to your brain, then the spices start tickling your nerves, and a nano second later, the brain starts getting these “hot” signals. So, the brain goes from slightly sweet, to hot and it thinks, this is fucking hot.

The same thing happens witl salt-savory combinations. That’s why salt is added sparingly to enhance almost all dishes

Again, not trying to discount anybody’s personal taste. Everyone’s taste buds are different, everyone’s brains are wired differently. so everyone tastes food differrently. It could be one persons sweet taste buds are extra sensitive, so the little bit of sugar tends to overwhelm the taste of the hot sauce. Same for salt, some people take less salt, some take more; It’s a matter of taste. it’s the same thing with sugar in hot sauces.

However, as a general rule, sugar will enhance any hot dish. The amount of sugar that is most effective is a matter of taste

Also, I make bread in a bread machine, and I put all the regular Indian spices in there. Garam Masala, fresh ground pepper, red chili powder, turmeric, Jira, Dhania…. the whole shebang. This bread makes a killer panini with sharp cheddar cheese. Next time, instead of putting the spices and butter seperately, I am going to fry the spices in the butter, and make a tadka out of it. Tadka bread. It’s going to be awesome!

1) waffles with hotsauce or avakaya and peanut butter!

2) rasam and plain cheerios with walnuts. Super healthy, and delicious if you’re odd like me and hate having sweet things for breakfast.

3) Not going to lie, many of the combinations mentioned on this thread I have tried at some point and LOVED. You’re not alone. I don’t know why everyone knocks these unconventional” ideas.

I can’t wait to hear more!