As soon as seeds begin to pop, a matter of seconds, add red chilies.

Harissa, made with dried red chilies, gives food a touch of fire.

Dried mild red chilies are $4.25 a pound.

The red chilies are more difficult to find and are often sold partly dried.

By all means reduce or dispense with the crushed red chilies if you want less fire.

Adding to the variety are fresh hot green and red chilies.

Mustard seeds and dried red chilies, two other Indian staples, are common enough, but curry leaves have no familiar reference.

In addition, throughout the day, we used fresh long red chilies, chili paste and more black pepper than I usually go through in a week.

Dried chopped red chilies and chili power are available throughout the year.

But minced raw jalapeño or crushed dried red chilies are also good.