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Piquillo Chili peppers are great ingredients to add more flavor to your dishes. Whether you want some zing in your sandwich or some extra heat in your soup, the piquillo chili peppers are a perfect choice.
You can add Piquillo peppers to different meals and still be confirmed that they taste as well as you’ve imagined.
However, If you’re in the mood for different spicy and delicious peppers, you’re not alone. Read on to find out more about what Piquillo Peppers are. Moreover, what other peppers you can use as piquillo pepper substitutes.
What are Piquillo Peppers?
If you’re interested in peppers that you can fry, roast, and stuff, then Piquillo Peppers are what you should consider.
There’s so much more that you can do with these versatile peppers, including adding them to your soups and stews. You can even store them in olive oil for later use.
You’d be surprised to find that this particular pepper is cultivated in Spain. It’s pretty popular in that part of the world for preparing delectable dishes, such as tapas. These conical-shaped peppers appear a vibrant red color when they’re ripe.
To get the most out of their flavor, you should roast them over an open fire. You’ll end up with a tasty sweet, and smoky flavor. The taste that you end up with is due to a specific process of hand-picking and roasting Piquillo.
The 6 Best Piquillo Peppers Substitutes
Sometimes, it can be challenging to find Piquillo Peppers in your area. That’s why you need to know what other delicious peppers can be used as an equivalent to them. The following are the six most suitable Piquillo Peppers substitutes you’ll enjoy using.
Jalapeno Peppers
Jalapeños are famously known as members of the Capsicum family of chile peppers. They’re mainly used to add the perfect spice and flavor to South American cuisine.
If you want peppers that make you think of Piquillo Peppers, you should choose these glossy and firm peppers.
You’ll love most about Jalapeños is that you can find them all year-round. These peppers make a great addition when you’re preparing tapas.
Scoville Heat Unit: 2,500–8,000 SHU
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Roasted Fresno Peppers
First things first, you cannot think of Jalapeños and forget about Fresno peppers. Think of them as the cousin that the Mexicans invented. While their shapes and sizes are similar, you’ll find that your typical Fresno pepper is slightly milder than Jalapeños.
You have to know who to talk to at your grocery store to find Fresno peppers. Or, you can browse through the international food aisle. However, if you want a hotter substitute, you should look for something else on this list.
Scoville Heat Unit: 2,500 – 10,000 SHU
Banana Peppers
You might be wondering if these have any relation in taste with bananas. The simple answer is no. Their name just comes from their shape and bright yellow color.
In other parts, they’re called yellow wax peppers. Imagine a mild Jalapeño, but imagine it five times milder. These yellow peppers are characterized by their sweetness and subtle tanginess.
You’ll enjoy having the option to eat them pickled or raw. This makes them an ideal addition to your salads as well as pizzas.
Scoville Heat Unit: 0–500 SHU
Pepperoncini Peppers
If you confuse Banana peppers and Pepperoncini peppers, you’re not alone. There are many people who think that these peppers are the same, but don’t be mistaken by their shape and color.
They come from the same family of peppers, the Capsicum Annum family.
However, Pepperoncinis have a fiery favor, and at times, you’ll notice that they have some bitterness that you won’t find in your Banana peppers.
Another distinctive trait of Pepperoncini peppers is green with a wrinkled texture. But, you can still enjoy them all the same in various dishes.
Scoville Heat Unit: 100-500 SHU
Cherry Peppers
Did you know that you can find spherical chilies that look like cherry tomatoes? It’s also easy to mistake them for cherry tomatoes, but you’ll notice that they’re different things all together when you bite into them.
They have thicker skin than you can permanently remove before you eat them, should you please.
Although they’re generally considered sweet, they have enough heat to tickle your taste buds. You’ll commonly find these peppers pickled in a jar at your local grocery store.
Scoville Heat Unit: 5000 SHU
Bell Peppers
Last but not least are your well-known bell peppers. These peppers aren’t just an exceptional substitute, but you can literally use them in any meal that you want to make.
Many people enjoy them because they have little to no heat, and can still enhance the flavors in any meal.
If you want to bring out more of their flavor, you can roast them and stuff them. The best part is that you can find them anywhere and any time of the year.
Scoville Heat Unit: 0 SHU
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Conclusion
In summary, finding Piquillo Peppers can be a challenge at times, especially when they’re out of season. The great news is that you don’t have to go without delicious peppers to spice up your dishes.
There’s a myriad of flavorful and bright-colored Piquillo pepper substitutes that you can still find and enjoy.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer peppers with a punch or are easy on your taste buds. These six substitutes are a great option if you’re running low or want to explore new flavors.
