Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis’ favorite flavor booster is a crushed Calabrian chili paste made in Italy from genuine Calabrian peppers.

She specifically prefers the Tutto Calabria brand, which features a rich, spicy flavor that’s complex yet fruit-forward, with a light smoky finish.

In addition to chili peppers and olive oil, the Tutto Calabria paste includes sunflower oil, white wine vinegar, basil, and salt. It works well in pasta sauces, pizza, and veggies.

De Laurentiis has used the paste to transform fig jam, and on her website, Giazdy, she uses the paste in a recipe for an Abruzzese street food called arrustelle.