Kitchen Tips

Kashmiri chili powder has a vibrant red color and mild smoky flavor, making it a popular ingredient in many Northern Indian curries and stews. However, it is not as common in Western kitchens and not as readily available at local grocery stores. If you find yourself in the mood for tandoori chicken and don’t have time to make it to an Indian grocery store, we have 8 great alternatives for Kashmiri chili powder.

Kashmiri chili powder is a spice that comes from dried Kashmiri peppers, which are harvested in the Kashmir region of Northern India. The chiles and the powder are known for having a bright red color, and sweet smoky taste. It is also a relatively mild chili powder, especially in Indian cuisine, with a Scoville heat unit (SHU) range of 1,000 to 2,000. For comparison, this is less spicy than a mild jalapeño that has a SHU range of 2,500 to 8,000.

Guajillo chiles are an essential component in many Mexican dishes. However, they are not always the easiest to find. If you find yourself in need of but without Guajillo chiles, we have some great alternatives that may save the day, or at least the dish.

Guajillo chile is a dried version of the Mirasol chile and is commonly used in Mexican cuisine. It’s a medium-sized pepper, measuring about four to six inches, with a deep red color and a sweet, smoky taste.

Anaheim peppers are a popular pepper today and used in a variety of dishes. However, if you find yourself out and needing them to finish your recipe or if you just want to bring up or down the heat, we have 10 great substitutes for you.

Anaheim Peppers have a mild flavor, with a Scoville heat unit (SHU) rating of about 500 to 2,500. While mild as far as peppers go, they can still pack a bit of a punch with a spicier Anaheim having similar heat to a mild jalapeño. Typically measuring 6 to 10 inches long, they have a green color when unripe and turn red when fully ripe. However, their green unripened state is the most commonly used in cooking as they lose some of their sweetness when fully ripe.

Jalapeño peppers are among the most popular peppers around. I love using them to add texture and spice to a variety of dishes. Whether you find yourself in need of jalapeños to finish a recipe or if you just want to change the heat or flavor profile in a dish, here are some great alternatives.

Orzo is a unique and versatile pasta that I use in some of my favorite dishes and sides.  However, if you don’t have any on hand, here are a few alternatives that have similar texture and taste.

Orzo is an oval-shaped pasta cut to the size of a grain of rice. It’s often called a type of “pastina” due to its small size. Orzo is typically made from a type of flour called semolina, which gives the pasta its golden color. However, it’s also available in a variety of other colors, including yellow-white, red, and green.

Whenever you are in a mood to taste Chinese Cuisine, then you always think of stir-fried vegetable rice or noodles, which translate into two most popular dishes, “Chow Mein and Chop Suey.” However, people who eat these dishes often wonder about the difference between Chow Mein and Chop Suey. If that’s what you are wondering …

Beef broth is a relatively common ingredient that adds a flavor punch to any meal. Whether as a base for a stew or part of a marinade for a beef dish, beef broth is an important part of any recipe. Whether you find yourself without or you are looking for ways to make your dish gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan, we have several great alternatives for you.

No matter if you are new to the baking world or an expert chef, sometimes in your life, you wonder about vanilla extract. It is the most common ingredient of most popular baking products, ice creams, and puddings. As a person who remains conscious about health and food safety, you often wonder “does Vanilla extract …

Egg salad is a healthy dish made from chopped eggs and cheese, mayonnaise, celery, and mustard. This salad is primarily prepared with seasonal herbs and spices. However, in most cases, all the ingredients are mixed up with mayonnaise to boost the taste. Trying out different recipes of dyeing eggs is a big tradition during Easter …

Popular in Southeast Asian cuisine, lemongrass is an herb that adds a rich citrus flavor to a wide range of dishes.  However, if you are about to embark on your favorite Thai curry and can’t find this key ingredient, we have several great alternatives that will give you the flavors you are looking for in your dish.

Known for its complex herbal and citrusy flavors with hints of ginger, lemongrass is a thick grassy herb native to the tropical climates of Southeast Asia. It is used in a wide range of dishes in Southeast Asian cuisine. I personally love the complexity it adds to meat dishes such as lemongrass chicken.