Ras el hanout is a favorite for spicing up Moroccan tagines and other North African cuisines. But as popular as this exotic spice blend is for this regional fair, it can be tough to source for the everyday chef. So where should you turn? What’s …
Have a recipe that calls for a few dashes of hot sauce, and there’s none in your cupboard? Or are you simply looking for alternative heat sources that don’t contain chili pepper? What are your options when you need a hot sauce substitute? There’s very …
Cajun seasoning is a versatile spice mix that brings a little Southern flair to any dish. From eggs to blackened steak, its taste is sizzling good. So good, in fact, that you may be surprised how easy it is to find an excellent substitute for Cajun …
So you have a recipe calling for dried chilies, and that’s not something you normally stock in your kitchen? Or maybe your specialty grocer is simply out. What’s the next best thing? What’s a good dried chili substitute that’ll still bring that hot pepper intensity …
Craving shishito peppers and none are around? Or do you have a recipe that calls for them, but you’d like to change things up a bit? What are your choices? What’s the best shishito pepper substitute when it comes to taste and flavor, and what …
Have a need for fresh banana peppers, but none are available in store? Or your supermarket is flat out of banana pepper rings and you need a good alternative? What’s a good banana pepper substitute for moments like this? The good news: You have two …
Known for its thin walls and sweet taste, the cubanelle – a.k.a. the Italian frying pepper – is fast growing in popularity. But, even so, if you live outside of areas with Italian or Caribbean influence, they can be hard finds in stores. So where …
Chipotle chili flakes are a convenient way to use chipotle chilies without the hassle of grinding them yourself. They are becoming more common in grocery stores, but it’s still no guarantee yours stocks them. So what do you do when you need a chipotle chili …
More and more recipes are calling for the increasingly popular chile de àrbol. Its nutty taste and medium heat adds a unique earthy punch to dishes; while its slender profile provides extra value as a garnish and infusion ingredient. But what if you can’t find …
We’ve all been there – a recipe calls for an ingredient and there’s nothing in-house. It happens a lot with chili powder. Instead of running out to the store, what can you do? What’s a good substitute for chili powder that will still provide that …
Free printable
Get the free PepperScale Scoville Heat Chart
25 chilies ranked from sweet to scorching — free and printable. Join the newsletter and we’ll send it to your inbox.
Subscribers get 15% off any PepperScale ebook — code in welcome email.
No spam — just Wicked Wednesday recipes and occasional extra dashes of chili pepper inspiration. Unsubscribe anytime.