Have you ever wondered what you might use instead of red pepper flakes when the occasion arises?
The following is the list of substitutes for red pepper flakes that you can use in recipes. Depending on the level of hotness you are looking for cayenne pepper, chipotle pepper, New Mexico chili powder, serrano pepper, hot paprika, and much more can make a great substitution for you.
These substitutions are easy to find in the grocery stores and you may already have some in your pantry already.
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Best substitute for red pepper flakes
1. Ground Cayenne pepper
The cayenne pepper is a Spice made from the dried pods of chili peppers and this is commonly used in spicy dishes like pizza, curry, hot sauces, and more. It is a very common type of pepper and it has thin walls, pubescent fruit, and is 1 to 2 inches long with 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units. It's perfect for any dish that calls for cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
2. Chipotle pepper flakes
This is a dried, smoked jalapeno pepper that gives any food dish a nice flavor and spicy kick. This can be found in some grocery stores or you can also order them on Amazon
3. New Mexico chili powder
It is a very common spice in most kitchens and it contains red chili peppers, garlic, and Mexican oregano and this can be found at your local grocery store near you. It's perfect for any recipe that calls for red pepper flakes or dried crushed red pepper. This is a very common and widely available spice and it contains more flavor than other peppers.
4. Serrano pepper
This is native to Mexico and this type of pepper has thin walls, pubescent fruit, and is 1 to 2 inches long with 45,000 to 75,000 Scoville heat units (SHU). It's perfect for any recipe that calls for red pepper flakes, that said, it is hotter than red pepper flakes and should be used with discretion.
5. Hot paprika
This is a ground powder made from the dried pods of chili peppers and this is normally used in spice mixtures or sauces to add spiciness, color, flavor (it is smoky), and more depth. It can be found at your local grocery store near you. Again, if all fails and you need mild heat in your dish then hot paprika will come to your rescue.
6. Pimento
Pimento is actually a dried form of sweet red peppers and it can be found in the spice section of your grocery store. It's perfect as a substitute for the red pepper flakes as again this will add spiciness, color, flavor, and more depth to your dish.
8. Red pepper powder
It is made from ground ripe red chili peppers and this is commonly used in making hot chili sauce and it can be found at your local grocery store near you.
9. Red pepper paste
It's a thick paste made from ground ripe red chili peppers and other ingredients such as soybean, sesame seeds, salt, and starch syrup. This can also be found at your local grocery store near you. It's perfect as a substitute for red pepper flakes as it will add spiciness, color, flavor, and more depth to your dish.
10. Serrano pepper powder
Serano pepper powder is an incredibly hot powder made from dried serrano peppers and it can be found online or in some specialty stores. It's perfect as a substitute for red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, dried ground chili peppers, or hot paprika.
11. Aleppo pepper
This type of pepper hails from Syria and is commonly used to add an earthy flavor to any dish. It's perfect as a substitute for red pepper flakes, chipotle chili powder and it has a wonderful taste.
12. Thai chili
Thai chili is a very hot small to medium-sized chili that can be varying shades of green, yellow or red when ripe and this is commonly used in making spicy Thai dishes such as curries.
13. Crushed bird eye red chili pepper
Bird-eye chili pepper is made from dried crushed bird eye chili peppers and this can be found at your local grocery store near you or it's also available online. This will add spiciness, color, flavor, and more depth to any dish that calls for chili flakes or red pepper flakes.
14. Cayenne pepper
It is actually ground dried cayenne chili peppers and this is commonly used in making hot sauces, marinades, or soups. It can also be used as a substitute for red pepper flakes and it's perfect if you're looking for hotness.
16. Black pepper
It is a very common spice in any kitchen and this can be used as a substitute for red pepper flakes; however, you should take note that black pepper isn't spicy at all. However, this will add spiciness to your dish if you're looking to cut out the heat.
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Conclusion
Any of the red pepper flakes substitutes listed above will work beautifully well in any dish that calls for chili flakes, cayenne pepper, dried crushed red peppers, or hot paprika.
At any given time if you cannot find one then try substituting it with another type of pepper as this is completely fine and acceptable.
However, because all peppers are not created equal, you may need to make changes to the quantity needed.
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