Depending on the recipe, you can add a fat such as butter, cream, sour cream, cheese, or oil to counteract too much heat. Sweetener also helps, including sugar, honey or maple syrup. Obviously, it wouldn’t make sense to add cheese to a spicy Thai Beef Stir Fry, so use your best judgement. (Faith keeps a container of yogurt in the fridge at all times in case her take-out food is over-the-top spicy.)
— Cooks Illustrated
