5 Best Aleppo Pepper Substitutes

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If you don’t have aleppo pepper for a recipe, there are a few alternatives that can be used in its place. In this article, I’ll share the best aleppo pepper substitutes to use in a pinch.

Aleppo pepper spice container
Aleppo pepper flakes.

Aleppo pepper is a spice made by grinding dried halaby peppers. These flakes are commonly used in Mediterranean dishes, but aleppo has become a popular global spice. While they look similar to normal red pepper flakes, the flavor and heat level are quite different. Aleppo pepper has an earthy, fruity flavor with a natural tang and mild heat.


1. Ancho Pepper

Ancho pepper dried chile

Ancho pepper is another dried chile pepper, made from dehydrated poblanos. This spice has a similar dried fruit flavor profile, and works perfectly as an aleppo substitute. Ancho powder is fairly easy to find, but it can also be found as a whole dried pepper in the spice aisle.

To make your own ancho flakes, open the dried chiles and shake the seeds out. Then, place the pepper flesh into a spice grinder, food processor, or blends and pulse into flakes. You can also pulverize into a powder if you prefer.

2. Paprika and Cayenne Pepper

Paprika, chili powder, and cayenne powder in small wooden bowls

If you don’t have ancho on hand, the next best substitute is a mixture of paprika and cayenne pepper powders. Since aleppo has a mild heat level, be careful not to over-do the cayenne (which is much spicier). I recommend a 3 to 1 ratio of paprika to cayenne.

If you need more heat, you can always add a bit more cayenne later! The flavor won’t be exactly the same, but the earthy pepper taste is close enough for most recipes.

3. Pasilla Chile

Dried pasilla pepper in hand

Pasilla pepper is a popular Mexican dried chile. It has a mild heat level with notes of chocolate and raisins. It is commonly used for making delicious sauces like mole. It is also commonly added to soups, stews, and we use it in our fruity pineapple salsa recipe.

This can be a bit tricky to find, but I have seen it in various grocery stores in the spice section. The dried peppers are almost jet black, and are long and flattened. Again, if you buy them whole, you’ll have to grind them into a flake or powder to use in cooking.

4. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Closeup of ground red chili pepper flakes
Red pepper flakes.

Red pepper flakes are an easy 1 to 1 substitute for aleppo pepper. While they may be slightly spicier (depending on the brand), the flavor and heat level is close enough to fill in. If your crushed pepper flakes are too large, you can easily grind them down using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.

5. Chili Powder

Chili powder in wooden bowl
Chili powder typically has a darker red color.

As a final option, you can use chili powder as an alternative to aleppo. While the flavors may not be exact, it certainly comes close enough to fill in for your recipe. You can use chili powder at a 1:1 substitute for a similar mild heat level and rich peppery flavor.

The main difference between chili powder and aleppo pepper is the addition of spices. Chili powder often has added cumin, garlic, and other spices to complement the dried chili pepper.


Other Alternatives

If none of these substitutes are available to you, here are a few other options to consider:

  • Jalapeño pepper
  • Gochugaru flakes
  • Sichuan pepper flakes
  • Chipotle powder

Where To Get Aleppo Powder

Aleppo pepper flakes

If you’re struggling to find aleppo powder in your local grocery store’s spice aisle, you can get it online here. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also grow your own peppers and make your own powders (this can be done with any pepper variety!). I love experimenting with different dried peppers, as the powders can have vastly different flavors. Enjoy!

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Calvin

One of the original Pepper Geeks! When Calvin isn’t gardening or learning more about peppers and botany, he might be traveling new places or playing some music.

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