One very important kitchen spice is Calabrian Chile, but what if one day you run out of this spice. What is the best Calabrian Chili substitute, if so, what are the spices that can replace Calabrian Chili in various recipes in your kitchen. That’s right, chili is an important spice in many family recipes and it is difficult to find a suitable substitute. But after considering many things, it turns out that you can imitate Calabrian Chili to produce the right cooking spices.
In this article, we will explain what are the best substitutes for Calabrian Chili in recipes. Before we explain in more depth, do you know what Calabrian Chili tastes like? If you don’t know, here we will tell you a little about the taste.
What does Calabrian Chili Taste Like?
By knowing what Calabrian Chile tastes like, we can look for substitutes. That’s why I say that we have to explain the taste first.
Typically, the use of Calabrian Chiles is in Italian cooking, they are small and taste very spicy, smoky and fruity. In stores, Calabrian Chile is available in dried form, in acidified form, and in paste form with olive oil.
Another use of Calabrian chiles is in the pasta all’arrabbiata dish and as an addition to pizza alla diavola. Its strong taste makes it able to balance out the sauce and cheese. Another use of Calabrian Chiles is as a cooking spice to add a spicy flavor to salads and sandwiches.
Calabrian Chile plants can be planted easily in the yard, just by planting the seeds, you can grow them into plants that you can harvest for your daily needs.
How Hot Are Calabrian Chiles?
It is also important to know the spicy level of Calabrian Chili so that you can find a suitable substitute.
These tiny peppers measure 1-3 inches with a bright red color. The taste is very spicy, with a Scoville rating of 25,000-40,000 units. When added to cooking, Calabrian Chili only needs to be added a little, because the level of spiciness of these tiny peppers is very high.
Now let’s see what are the best substitutes for Calabrian Chili, hopefully you can find a substitute when you can’t use or find this pepper.
The Best Calabrian Chili Substitute
OK, so far we have collected a lot of Calabrian Chile substitutes that can be used in recipes when you don’t have this tiny pepper. However, the spiciness of the substitutes below is not as spicy as Calabrian Chile. But this is more suitable because some people prefer a milder taste.
Ok, let’s just see what are the substitutes for Calabrian Chili.
1. Anaheim Peppers
Has a spicy level between 500 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units
Anaheim pepper is a suitable substitute for Calabrian chiles because it is high in spiciness even though it is not the same as Calabrian chilies.
This is a chili with a mild to medium level of spiciness. Typically, anaheim is used in Mexican and Southwestern cooking and can be found in canned or dried form. it is long and slender, with a smooth and fleshy texture.
Green to red in color with smooth and thin skin. It is tangy and slightly sweet, with this taste it can replace Calabrian chiles in many dishes. If canned or dried, the taste will be smoky and unique.
2. Serrano Peppers
Has a spiciness level between 10,000 to 25,000 Scoville Heat Units.
For peppers that are a little hotter than Anaheim, you can use Serrano peppers instead of Calabrian chiles. These peppers are the same as Anaheim which you can easily find in stores in canned or dried form.
Serrano pepper is a type of chili pepper grown in the mountains of Mexico. When immature it is green and will turn orange, red, or yellow when it is ripe. It has a sharp taste with a bright color, it is widely used in Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, some are used fresh and some are acidified.
3. Poblano Peppers
With a spiciness level of 1,500 Scoville Heat Units, making it one of the Calabrian chili substitutes that you can try.
Poblano is a good pepper to replace Calabrian chili, but this pepper is very low in spiciness. The taste is very light and suitable for those of you who are afraid of spicy food. Poblanos are shaped like green peppers, which are suitable for use in cooking for children because they are not spicy. If you have poblano and want it to be spicier, you can add serrano peppers to the recipe.
Poblano chilies are widely used in Mexican cooking as well as in non-spicy dishes. Usually, poblanos are harvested when they are still green, and can also be left until they turn orange, red or brown. When dried, poblanos are known as ancho peppers and their taste becomes sweet or almost like chocolate. Unique isn’t it!
4. Fresno Chile
With a spiciness level between 2,500 – 10,000 Scoville Heat Units
Fresno Chili is one of the best chilies as a substitute for Calabrian chili. The name shows that Fresno Chili is a chili cultivated in the Fresno area, California. They are small in size and vary in color from green to red.
The spiciness level ranges from mild to medium. Suitable for making non-spicy foods and dishes. For those of you who don’t like too spicy in cooking, Fresno Chili is a chili that is suitable for you. Calabrian chili and Fresno chili have a similar taste profile so they can be used as the best substitute for Calabrian chili. It’s just that Fresno Chile is not as spicy as Calabrian Chili.
5. Red Pepper Flakes
It has a spiciness level between 15,000 – 35,000 Scoville Heat Units
Red Pepper Flakes are hot chilies with a spiciness level below Calabrian Chili, this is a suitable substitute for Calabrian chili if you crave spicy food.
Red Pepper Flakes is a chili that is easy to find and is widely available in grocery stores. This red chili is also known as cayenne pepper, it is dried and ground and the result is a very spicy dried red chili.
These red chili flakes can be added to many dishes according to your needs. Usually, Red Pepper Flakes are often sprinkled on pizza or pasta. There are also those who add a spicy taste to soups, stews or as a spicy spread on grilled meat.
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Conclusion: Calabrian Chile Substitute
These are some substitutes for Calabrian chilies. As we have already mentioned, when you run out of Calabrian chiles, you can use one of the best substitutes that we have explained.
This good substitute has different levels of spiciness, please use it according to the portion. You can use Anaheim peppers, serrano, poblano, or Fresno chilies. If you want a spicier substitute, you can use Red Pepper Flakes.
