Crossword Genius

It's a bit spicy around plate (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

balti

'plate' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'it's a bit spicy around' is the wordplay.
'it's a bit' becomes 'balt' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'around' means to look at the middle letters.
The middle letter of 'spicy' is 'i'.
'balt'+'i'='BALTI'

(Other definitions for balti that I've seen before include "Kind of Indian cookery" , "Type of curry" , "food from India?" , "Pakistani curry dish, originating perhaps in 1970s' Birmingham" , "Style of curry" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app