Dairy may seem like the only ingredient capable of disarming aggressively hot food, but nut butters work in a similar way to achieve the same results. Capsaicin, the compound in pepper that provides that burning sensation, is fat-soluble, which is why reaching for milk instead of water works best. With nut butters being fatty as well, they work similarly against capsaicin. Nut butter weakens the oils in the compound, soothing the fiery flames into a gentle heat.