Cayenne pepper is known for its excellent flavor and availability in powdered form. It is a great way to add heat to your food. Cayenne powder is obtained from fresh ground Cayenne peppers that range in heat from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units on the Scoville scale.
This pepper has a bright red color that adds an earthy and spicy flavor to the dishes. It is a spice that works well in foods such as nachos, salsa tacos, and all the chicken-containing dishes. Additionally, It is most prevalent in Southern, Indian, and Asian cuisines.
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Cayenne Pepper Benefits
There are several benefits of Cayenne pepper, some of these are mentioned below:
- It has wonderful metabolism-boosting properties.
- It can be used to lower blood pressure.
- Cayenne pepper also reduces the feeling of hunger, and therefore it can be used in foods white following a diet plan to reduce weight.
- It has an essential impact on skin diseases as it can be used to reduce Psoriasis.
- It can be beneficial for cancer patients and at least use 30 mg of Cayenne pepper three times daily. Doctors highly recommend it.
- The pepper is suitable for those who have problems digesting food for any reason. A small amount of this pepper in the recipe can make the meal digestible and flavorsome. Therefore, it is an excellent dietary ingredient known for improving digestive health.
Best Cayenne Pepper Substitute (s)
Cayenne pepper is available everywhere in the market, but fresh pepper is not always available.
It is more often that Cayenne pepper is not available, and you don’t have it on hand, so you need a Cayenne pepper substitute. Here are some replacements that can help you out in a time of need.
#1. Red Pepper Flakes
You can use red pepper flakes as a substitute for Cayenne pepper. Keep in mind that they have a different texture than Cayenne pepper. Use a pinch of red chili flakes to add heat to the dish. Ingredients used in making the red pepper flakes differ depending on the type of brand you are using.
#2. Paprika
Another substitute for Cayenne pepper is Paprika. Some primary types of Paprika include basic Paprika, Hungarian and Spanish Paprika.
If you want a little spice in your food, then you should go for regular paprika. If you want more heat in your food, then you can double the amount of paprika.
Hungarian paprika is available in deep red color and a bit less spicy, but it will add heat to your food. Spanish paprika is made up of smoked peppers, which produce a taste of heat and smoke both.
#3. Chili Powder
Chili powder is one of the most liked substitutes for Cayenne pepper. The chili powder consists of several chili peppers that are first dried and then grounded into the final product. Ground Cayenne pepper is almost eight times hotter than Chili powder.
If you are using Chili powder instead of Cayenne pepper in your recipe, you should double the amount of powder as Cayenne pepper.
Be very careful when buying chili powder at the supermarket as many other spices are also labeled as Chili powder. They will be spicier and add a different and smoky flavor to your dishes. Therefore, it is necessary to read the ingredients before buying any product on the safe side.
#4. Gochugaru
If you are looking for a substitute for Cayenne pepper, then Gochugaru is the right choice. Gochugaru is mainly popular in Korean cuisine. Usually, the ground red pepper flakes are used to make Gochugaru.
It has a smoky-sweet flavor; that is why the dishes taste slightly different from the usual when Gochugaru is in ingredients instead of Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is neutral in taste, and that’s why the people most like it.
You can also order Gochugaru from online stores as it is readily available online.
Always use similar ratios of Gochugaru as that of Cayenne pepper. Never increase or decrease the amount else you will lose the taste of your dish.
#5. Tabasco Sauce
If you are looking for a good substitute for Cayenne pepper, Tabasco is one of the best options. It is somehow challenging to differentiate between the tastes of Tabasco sauce and Cayenne pepper. It is made from Tabasco peppers.
The amount of heat units in Tabasco sauce is almost equivalent to 30,000-50,000 Scoville. Once the Tabasco pepper processes into Tabasco sauce, then the heat units will reduce.
Tabasco after processing becomes equal to 500 Scoville heat units. So it will not be as hot as Cayenne but tastes the same.
The ingredients that are used in making this sauce includes vinegar, salt, and Tabasco pepper.
All these ingredients give a salty, acidic taste to your food, which you will love. If you are going to use Tabasco sauce instead of Cayenne pepper in cooking, you should use 3-5 drops of Tabasco sauce, don’t exceed the limit.
#6. Thai Peppers
Thai peppers are a good Cayenne pepper substitute. Thai peppers are tiny in size as well as high in heat. They have a typical pungent smell. They are available in a wide variety of flavors.
Almost 79 separate varieties of pepper are available in Thailand. Mostly three species make for premium quality peppers. Thai peppers range from 50,000-100,000 Scoville Heat Units because of their wide variety.
If you are thinking of using Thai Peppers instead of Cayenne pepper then only use a pinch of Thai pepper in your dishes as it is hot and will make your dishes exceptionally spicy too.
#7. Serrano Peppers
Serrano Chili pepper is one of the most famous substitutes for Cayenne pepper. They are mostly available in green color, but they are available in red-brown orange or yellow colors too.
Serrano Peppers are almost 1-4 inches long and ½ inches wide. They are meaty peppers and are not the best choice for drying. They typically originated in the Mexican states in the mountainous regions.
Serrano peppers have a similar taste to jalapeño peppers, but they are hotter and spicier. Serrano peppers range from 10,000-23,000 Scoville Heat Units, which is a lovely heat level for cooking.
It is as spicy as a ground Cayenne pepper so you can use fresh Serrano peppers in your dishes as a substitute for Cayenne pepper and enjoy the excellent taste.
#8. Jalapeño Pepper
Jalapeño is another substitute for Cayenne pepper. A jalapeño pepper is a Capsicum pod-type fruit. It is a medium-sized pepper almost 2-3 inches in length, but it can also grow up to 6 inches long.
Jalapeño peppers range from 5,000 Scoville Heat Units. That is mildly hot, and that is why people love its taste.
Jalapeño peppers taste better when they are green. Jalapeños are the favorite spices of American people; they use this green spice in almost every dish, ranging from soup to lemonade.
Jalapeño Peppers are typically more liked by people because of their health benefits.
Moreover, Jalapeño pepper is spicy and slightly smoky in taste. Because they give a mild tangy flavor to your food, that is why they are useful as everyday spices. Using Jalapeño pepper instead of Cayenne pepper will give your dishes the heat you need in your food.
#9. Chipotle Powder
The chipotle powder can also be used in place on Cayenne pepper. Chipotle is a type of ripened jalapeños that have been allowed to mature and become entirely red. They are dried up by smoking. It takes about 10 pounds of fresh peppers to make one pound of dried jalapeños. This pepper has a mild to moderate heat level.
You can get the Chipotle Pepper from the market, but you have to grind them at your home. Cayenne pepper is hotter than Chipotle powder.
Chipotle pepper has the same heat as the jalapeño peppers because they are made up of the dried jalapeños. They give a mild smoky taste to your dishes.
Cayenne pepper gives a neutral taste to your food; that is why you can quickly identify the difference between Cayenne pepper and other spices.
Chipotle powder is mostly used in Mexican cuisines seasonally. It is available in different forms. Chipotle is a relatively mild but earthy spice. Chefs use it for meat and chicken marination.
#10. Black Pepper
If you don’t have any cayenne pepper substitutes, then the last thing that you can use in place of Cayenne pepper is black pepper. Although black pepper is milder in taste than Cayenne pepper, it is a potential substitute for Cayenne pepper.
Black pepper comes from the berries of pepper plants. If you are using black pepper in place of CA pepper, add freshly grounded black pepper. It has a very pungent smell and a strong taste. Never cook for too long as it loses its flavor and aroma if cooked for too long.
Black pepper increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, and therefore it improves digestion.
It is also good to treat diarrhea and constipation. Moreover, It is a perfect antioxidant and antibacterial. Additionally, It promotes sweating and also has diuretic properties.
Final Words
If you are looking for a Cayenne pepper substitute, you can use any of these ten substitutes to make tasty and mouth-watering meals. By adding any spice, the primary purpose is to boost the taste of the dish. Any pepper in a moderate amount helps enhance other ingredients. However, be cautious because overuse may ruin the recipe entirely as well. A pinch or two of pepper is more than enough to bring all ingredients together in your meal.
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