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Spicy food to cool off summer

By Karen Tina Harrison | Special to amNewYork

Strange but true: hot food really does cool you off. How? Spices make you sweat, and your body temp dips. These are some of the most sizzling dishes on earth, cooked right here for chilling out a la NYC.

India: Purnima The Subcontinent's killer curry concoction, vindaloo, can make you weep. But Purnima chef Vikas Khanna uses gentler Portuguese piri-piri peppers that let you taste all the flavors in his Goan chicken vindaloo ($19). 254 W. 54th St.; 212-307-9797; www,purnimarestaurant.com; entrees, $14-$26

Peru: Pio Pio Yorkville has gone loco for this Peruvian rotisserie chicken joint, a Queens import. Pio Pio's plump whole bird is tempting, but its super-spicy aji yellow-pepper sauce is its ticket to poultry paradise ($8). Drizzle a little or a lot. 1746 First Ave.; 212-426-5800; entrees, $4-$26

Malaysia: Penang Malaysia is steamy--and so is Penang's nabe, where Chinatown meets Nolita. Here, a filling bowl of seafood tomyan noodle soup shivers your timbers with fiery red chilies and sweet-and-sour lemongrass ($11.95). 41 Elizabeth St.; 212-431-3782; entrees, $9.95-$21.95

Texas: Hill Country Lone Star State cowboys and indie filmmakers beat the heat with barbecue. This Chelsea ribs shack and music spot does it nice and spicy. Chill with Hill Country's jalapeño sausage ($5.50), red chili ($5) and ancho chile brownie ($5). 30 W. 26th St.; 212-255-4544; www.hillcountryny.com; entrees, $6-$16.75 per lb.

Korea: DoSirak NYU kids and Union Square suits hit this cute spot for the rugged fare of Korea, where August is blazing. Go polar with Seoul food like bibim naengmyun, earthy cold buckwheat noodles with red pepper and sesame sauce ($9). 30 E. 13th St.; 212-366-9299; entrees, $7-$16

Egypt: Sabry's Forget falafels. Egyptian fish Nile-style is moist and flavorful. This Astoria restaurant and sidewalk café grills fresh whole fish "Alexandria" that's zippy with hot stuff: garlic, onions and cumin ($14-$24). 24-25 Steinway St., Astoria; 718-721-9010; entrees, $11-$30

China: Szechuan Gourmet Flushing's Chinatown serves mainland chow that never heard of hot and sour soup. At this pretty place near the #7 station, delicious minced pork with clear noodles pops with pink, black and red peppercorns ($7.95). 135-15 37th Ave., Flushing; 718-888-9388; entrees $5.95-$18.95