• Jalapenos are a main ingredient in many Tex-Mex dishes.JALAPENO PEPPERS image by brelsbil from Fotolia.com
  
  In the cuisine world, Texas is known for its bold Southwestern flavors. Texans infuse their food with chili peppers, onions, cilantro, mustard and other spices. To add the zip of Texas flavor to your next barbecue or fajita dish, you can buy pre-bottled mixes or make some blends yourself with standard spices.
  
  

Chili Peppers

• Texan food is known for its bite. Red, jalapeno, chipotle and cayenne peppers are main players in many Southwestern dishes. They are often combined in chili powder and used as a base for chicken, beef and pork rubs. Chili peppers are also used in Tex-Mex dishes. Tex-Mex is the combination of Southwestern and Mexican flavors.
  
  

Cumin

• Also used in Mediterranean food, cumin is an essential spice in Texan dishes. Because the seeds are so small, they can be put whole into recipes or finely ground. The heavy, nutty flavor of cumin is combined with chili powder and other spices in fajita seasonings, stews and protein rubs.
  
  

Paprika

• Paprika is an essential ingredient in Texas foods, including barbecue-flavored ribs and brisket. The bright red powder adds a fiery kick to any dish and pairs well when mixed with black pepper and mustard seed. It can also be mixed into a vinaigrette dressing and tossed with a salad.
  
  

Mustard

• Mustard seed comes in white, brown or black seeds, with white being the mildest. Its sharp yet balanced flavor is found in many pickling recipes and rubs. Many Texans enjoy spicy dips and sauces made with mustard, red wine vinegar, tumeric, sugar and garlic.