SaurabhAleppo peppers are some of the tastiest peppers you will find. They can be prepared in a wide range of dishes. You can use them in delicious, cold salads as well as stews and soups.
These peppers can also be used as a powder to season other dishes as they are moderately spicy and can enrich the flavor of any food.
If you can’t find Aleppo peppers you can use red bell peppers in your dishes or paprika powder. But there are other suitable alternatives that will work in plenty of recipes. Keep reading to find the best substitutes for Aleppo peppers.
Aleppo pepper substitutes
The following Aleppo pepper substitutes will taste delicious in any of your dishes. Use them according to your taste and amaze your guests with tasty food every time.
1. Paprika
Paprika is the best substitute for Aleppo peppers if you want to use them in powder form to season other foods. You can find sweet and spicy paprika on the market but be careful. They look the same.
When using paprika instead of Aleppo peppers, you might need to add a pinch of salt to get a more similar taste. Use this type of seasoning to add flavor to soups, stews, eggs, or even salads.
2. Cayenne
Cayenne peppers are great substitutes for Aleppo peppers and you will not regret using these peppers in any of your dishes. You can find cayenne pepper powder in stores easily and use it to add flavor to stews and soups.
Keep in mind that cayenne powder can come in different levels of spiciness. Therefore, it is important to taste it before adding it to your recipes.
3. Crushed red pepper
Crushed red pepper powder is another great alternative to Aleppo peppers. You can find it in a sweet or spicy version but in most cases, it comes from sweet red bell peppers. You can use red bell peppers even in their natural form to add them as veggies in soups or stews.
In powder form, they make for a great seasoning. Red bell peppers make for great stuffed peppers so allow yourself to get creative with these versatile veggies.
4. Ancho powder
Ancho powder is also called Poblano pepper powder and it is one of the best substitutes for Aleppo peppers in all types of dishes.
However, this alternative might not be so easy to find in stores. This substitute is spicy but not spicier than the Aleppo powder you need to replace. You can use the same quantity of Ancho powder that you would use of Aleppo powder.
5. Chili pepper
Chili pepper is maybe the easiest substitute to find when you are missing Aleppo peppers. You can find chili flakes as well and they work great in most of your recipes.
As for the spicy level, you will notice that Chili powder is just a bit spicier than Aleppo peppers. Even so, you can use it interchangeably in most recipes.
6. Hot paprika
Hot paprika is hotter than Aleppo powder. You can use it mixed with different seasonings such as salt, pepper, and herbs.
It will taste great in stews and omelets and might become one of your favorite seasonings if you like spicy food. Keep in mind that is a lot spicier than Aleppo so you will just need a pinch of it to season your food.
7. Piri Piri powder
If you like spicy foods, you will love the Piri Piri powder as a substitute for Aleppo peppers. This powder is very hot and a lot spicier than Aleppo powder so you will have to use it less.
Taste your food as you are adding the Piri Piri powder and you will get a nice dish at the end. It is hard to correct the taste if you happen to add too much of this powder so be mindful of this aspect.
8. Turkish Marash
Marash is a Turkish pepper that can season your food deliciously. You should expect a smoky flavor from these peppers which makes them great for meat dishes.
In terms of spiciness, these peppers are just as spicy as the Aleppo peppers. But the smoky taste they have gives them a unique taste. You might even like Marash peppers more than Aleppo in some of your dishes.
9. Antebi peppers
Antebi is a pepper with somewhat of a fruity flavor and you will find that it adds a different taste to your food. It is also spicy enough to replace Aleppo pepper powder.
But you might have to add more of it to get the results you want. This substitute works in cold dishes such as salads but it can enrich the taste of your stews as well.
10. Korean Gochugaru
If you like Asian cuisine, you will love the Gochugaru seasoning. Gochugaru is a Korean pepper that is very similar to Chili.
It has a sweet and smoky flavor which makes it different than other types of peppers. They are available as both a powder and paste. However, you can also get the peppers and dry them at home before you convert them into flakes.
FAQs
Is Aleppo pepper the same as cayenne pepper?
No, Aleppo peppers and Cayenne peppers are different but you can use one to substitute for another any time.
Cayenne peppers are from the same family as Chili peppers. They have several levels of spiciness when Aleppo peppers come in one level of spiciness. They look very similar and they also have a similar taste which is why you can use either one in your recipes.
If you are not sure what level of spiciness your Cayenne peppers have, you might end up with a dish that is either too spicy or not spicy enough. Therefore, check this aspect before you replace Aleppo with Cayenne pepper or vice versa.
What does Aleppo pepper taste like?
To find the best substitute for Aleppo peppers, you will have to know how these peppers taste like. Aleppo peppers are spicy but not hot and they can have a sweet tint to their flavor as well.
They go great with salt and vinegar which is why you can use them in cold salads as well so not just in cooked dishes. Aleppo peppers are ideal for those who like spicy foods but not hot ones. These peppers are easy to find especially if you want them in a powder or flaky version.
Last Words
If you like Aleppo peppers but don’t have them handy, reach for one of the substitutes in this guide. Remember that your food might have a slightly different flavor if you replace your Aleppo peppers with different types of peppers.
If you continue to taste your food as you are cooking it, you can always adjust the flavor by adding more seasonings. Start with a pinch of seasonings and increase the quantity as you feel you need to. It is difficult to correct a dish that turned out to be too spicy for your taste.
