How do you rehydrate dried chilies, and do they keep their heat?

@drummer2584: How do you rehydrate dried chilies, and do they keep their heat?

Jamie Oliver: There's no mystery to rehydrating anything really – just put it in warm or hot liquid. If a chili is of good quality and variety (having great flavour from the start), and if it has been dried naturally and slowly using the sun, so it keeps its natural oils and taste, you'll end up with something amazing. Remember, with both fresh and dried anything, it isn't about better or worse, it's about the flavour spectrum. For example, an amazing chili and tomato sauce made using both fresh and dried chili is incredible – fresh has attack, vivaciousness and perfume, whereas dried has great savouriness and a rounded heat, so together they're a fine team.

Have a question for Jamie Oliver? Email jamie@globeandmail.com or tweet @GlobeStyle with the hashtag #jamieatglobe. For more information, go to jamieoliver.com.