6 Cayenne Pepper Substitutes that Can Provide Same Heat and Spice to Your Recipe

Cayenne Pepper Substitute,Cayenne Pepper

About Chili Pepper and Cayenne Pepper Substitute:

The chili pepper (also chilechile pepperchilli pepper, or chilli), from Nahuatl chīlli (Nahuatl pronunciation: [ˈt͡ʃiːlːi] (listen)), is the berry-fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum which are members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Chili peppers are widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add pungent ‘heat’ to dishes. Capsaicin and related compounds known as capsaicinoids are the substances giving chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically. Although this definition would technically include bell peppers, in common language they are often two discrete categories: bell peppers and chili peppers.

Chili peppers originated in Mexico. After the Columbian Exchange, many cultivars of chili pepper spread across the world, used for both food and traditional medicine. This diversity has led to a wide variety of varieties and cultivars, including the annuum species, with its glabriusculum variety and New Mexico cultivar group, and the species of baccatumchinensefrutescens, and pubescens.

Cultivars grown in North America and Europe are believed to all derive from Capsicum annuum, and have white, yellow, red or purple to black fruits. In 2016, the world’s production of raw green chili peppers amounted to 34.5 million tons, with China producing half. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Cayenne Pepper Substitute,Cayenne Pepper

Origins

Capsicum fruits have been a part of human diets since about 7,500 BC, and are one of the oldest cultivated crops in the Americas, as origins of cultivating chili peppers are traced to east-central Mexico some 6,000 years ago. They were one of the first self-pollinating crops cultivated in Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America.

Peru is the country with the highest cultivated Capsicum diversity because it is a center of diversification where varieties of all five domesticates were introduced, grown, and consumed in pre-Columbian times. Bolivia is the country where the largest diversity of wild Capsicum peppers is consumed. Bolivian consumers distinguish two basic forms: ulupicas, species with small round fruits including C. eximiumC. cardenasiiC. eshbaughii, and C. caballeroi landraces; and arivivis with small elongated fruits including C. baccatum var. baccatum and C. chacoense varieties. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Cayenne Pepper Substitute,Cayenne Pepper

Same amount of paprika, same cook, same recipe – but this time it turns your ears red and makes a “see-eee” sound.

Why?

Because this time the pepper varieties are different.

CAYENNE PEPPER.

But what if your recipe calls for it as a primary ingredient and you don’t have it? Surely you would look for alternatives, right?

That’s what we’re going to discuss today: possible substitutes for paprika.

Let’s start. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

What is Cayenne Pepper?

Cayenne Pepper Substitutes,Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a species of Capsicum annum that is hotter than most of its commonly available counterparts. It is slender, long, slightly curved at the tip and tends to hang down from the stem rather than growing upright. Its temperature is measured between 30k and 50k Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

Hot pepper got its name from Cayenne, the capital of French Guinea, located in South America.

It grows in tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico, USA, Africa and India. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Cayenne Pepper vs. Chili Powder

Cayenne Pepper Substitutes,Cayenne Pepper

Branded packaged chili powder sold in the market is not pure ground chili powder. Even so, it would be a combination of different varieties of paprika.

On the other hand, cayenne pepper or its powder is a pure pepper that is much hotter than other varieties. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Nutritional Facts of Cayenne Pepper

One teaspoon of cayenne pepper has 6 calories of energy;

0.3 g of fat, 2/3 of which are polyunsaturated fats;

0.5mg Sodium, 36.3mg Potassium, 1g Carbs;

0.2g of protein and 14% of the minimum daily requirement of vitamin A. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Cayenne Pepper Benefits

  • Maintains a good pH level in the stomach to protect us from unhealthy bacteria
  • Healthy purple tea may help with cancer as its capsaicin content causes tumor cells to kill themselves.
  • Its anti-inflammatory properties help relieve pain. You can also use oolong tea to fight chronic inflammation.
  • Helps fight cold by raising body temperature.
  • Maintains blood pressure level and prevents blood clotting
  • Aids in the production of saliva, which aids in digestion
  • Because it raises body temperature, it can also aid weight loss, which cayenne pepper substitutes can’t quite do. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

5 Substitutes of Cayenne Pepper

What can I substitute for cayenne pepper?

The list below is the answer to this curious question. v

1. Red Chili Powder

Cayenne Pepper Substitutes,Cayenne Pepper

Chili powder or ground paprika are terms that can be used interchangeably.

It is the most common kitchen spice that every household has. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

But you may be surprised to know that the branded chili powder we buy isn’t made from a specific type of chili.

Instead, some additional seasonings are added, such as different types of peppers and fennel seed powders, which alter the taste a bit.

Therefore, cayenne pepper powder may be your first choice instead of cayenne pepper. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Instead How Much?

Because the heat factor in peppers varies from one producer to the next, it’s important to try an equal amount and add more if needed. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

2. Chili Flakes or its Powder

Cayenne Pepper Substitutes,Cayenne Pepper

Chili flakes or crushed red pepper flakes are made by dry roasting and grinding chili peppers.

Unlike typical ground peppers, the seeds are clearly visible inside. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

5-6 peppers can make you a teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

If you ask this to a housewife or any chef, she will suddenly tell you that chili powder has a lot more heat and is more spicy than regular chili powder.

Normal uses include pizza, pasta, spaghetti, etc.

Considering its heat, flakes are one of the best substitutes for cayenne powder. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Instead How Much?

Start with the same amount and add gradually until desired flavor is achieved. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

3. Paprika

Cayenne Pepper Substitutes,Cayenne Pepper

Paprika can really be called a combination of different red peppers. Their flavors range from fiery to slightly sweet. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

The color is red, but not too spicy.

When substituting red pepper instead of hot pepper, it is necessary to know the type first.

There is also sweet paprika, which is obtained by grinding red bell peppers and used to garnish dishes.

Another form is Chili, which is made either from ground cayenne peppers alone or from my bell and cayenne peppers.

Due to its taste close to hot pepper, both are used interchangeably, with paprika instead of cayenne pepper and vice versa. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Instead How Much?

Cayenne Pepper may be a better substitute for Cayenne pepper, which is about the same amount or slightly more. Start with an equal amount and add gradually until you reach your taste. (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

Q: How much cayenne powder equals one pepper?

Ans: One ounce of fresh cayenne peppers is equal to one tablespoon of cayenne powder (Cayenne Pepper Substitute)

4. Tabasco Sauce

Cayenne Pepper Substitutes,Cayenne Pepper

Hot sauces, such as Tabasco chili sauce, contain cayenne pepper as one of the main ingredients, making them a good alternative to chili.

Other ingredients in hot sauces include vinegar and salt.

Its nutritional benefits include 35 mg of sodium per teaspoon.

With Scoville ratings of only 2500-5000, it can be called a mild alternative to hot pepper.

Therefore, you can also use Tabasco sauce instead of hot pepper.

Instead How Much?

Tabasco pepper sauce approx. Six times less intense than cayenne pepper, you can try replacing ½ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper with 8 drops of Tabasco and add more if needed.

5. Thai Chili peppers (Whole & Dried)

Cayenne Pepper Substitute,Cayenne Pepper
Image Source Flickr

Thai chili peppers are quite common on the shelves of any supermarket.

Instead of being crushed or ground, they are dried as a whole and are very hot and delicious.

It is very suitable for both stir-frying and sautéing dishes, as well as for garnishing and topping certain dishes.

They are much hotter than even hot peppers. Their ratings on the SHU scale range from 50,000 to 100,000.

Therefore, Thai pepper can be ranked as the best fresh red pepper substitute.

Instead How Much?

½ tablespoon of Thai pepper may be the best substitute for ½ teaspoon. Red pepper.

Kitchen Tips

Always use cut-resistant kitchen gloves before cutting or chopping vegetables or fruits.

6. Gochugaru

Cayenne Pepper Substitute,Cayenne Pepper
Image Source Pinterest

Gochugaru is a coarsely ground blend of Korean red peppers that is sun-dried before being ground or crushed.

It has a texture between powders and flakes.

well,

It’s not as fine as regular chili powder, nor as coarse as flakes.

The unique thing about Gochugaru is its smoky taste.

If we compare the temperature with the pain, we can say that it is much less. It has only 1500 points on the SHU scale.

Instead How Much?

Start with an equal amount, then gradually increase the amount until you reach your desired flavor.

The above list is not exhaustive. There are hundreds of types of peppers in the world.

And not all of them are close substitutes.

Examples include ancho, chipotle chili,

Do you know?

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world’s hottest pepper is the Carolina Reaper.

Conclusion

Non-spicy foods, especially foods that are known and eaten for their spicy and hot flavor, will not work. Cayenne pepper is hot, beneficial and difficult to substitute. Still, the six alternatives above are the ones that won’t hurt the taste of your favorite recipe.

Which of these alternatives do you use in your meals? And what are your criteria for selection? Share it with us in the comments section below.

Also, don’t forget to pin/bookmark and visit our blog for more interesting but original information. (Vodka And Grape Juice)

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