Saint InnocentEveryone loves cooking with hot chilies, more so when it is done using Fresno peppers, which are fantastic vegetables known for their delicious flavor. Unfortunately, it is a type of vegetable you don’t always get to find stocked in regular grocery stores, but rather in Mexican specialty grocery stores.
Generally, they can be used inside of any recipes you would have used peppers ordinarily in, such as inside of pizzas, pickles and relishes, jams and preserves, stir fry, stews, soups, casseroles, and more; meaning it is that versatile ingredient you can always go for if you want a little more heat.
Blessed with a bright red color, which is considered incredibly photogenic, Fresno peppers are only widely adopted in cooking for residents occupying California since they are a lot easier to find when you live in California, but that can’t be said for persons living outside of California.
Most individuals out there do enjoy the bright flavor of Fresno peppers, but the fact that they cannot be easily found in any of the grocery stores in the neighborhood is yet another challenge for them to battle with, while for some others it is just a case of being out of Fresno peppers and needing a substitute to replace them inside of their recipes.
But whichever the case is for you at the end of the day, below have been highlighted 7 of the best substitutes for Fresno peppers.
7 Interesting Substitute For Fresno Peppers You Didn’t Know
1. Aleppo Peppers
Aleppo peppers are considered one of the reliable substitute for Fresno peppers because of the similarities they both share in terms of being fruity, with its fruity taste complimented by a hint of smoke flavor that blends well and goes hand in hand with the same ingredients as Fresno peppers.
However, as a substitute for Fresno peppers, they might not be spicy compared to the level of heat the Fresno peppers bring. In this regard, it is suggested that you might just need to add more of the Aleppo peppers to get similar heat as you would have gotten from the Fresno peppers ordinarily.
2. Cayenne Peppers
Interestingly enough, cayenne peppers are a substitute for Fresno peppers, which you have more chances of finding in their dried form than in their fresh form. But whichever form you get to find them in, either fresh or dried, rest assured of them swapping in easily for the Fresno peppers.
Characterized by their relatively smoky flavor, cayenne peppers are also known to come in variable spice ranges. On this note, it should be in your best interest to go for the powdered kind or cayenne flakes rather than sticking with fresh peppers.
Finally, as a substitute for Fresno peppers, cayenne peppers are great inside plates of seafood, where their heat level is needed to blend with the soft cream flavors inside of that seafood.
3. Chipotle Pepper
Chipotle peppers, as a substitute for Fresno peppers, are more like an offspring of the Jalapeno peppers since they are smoked jalapenos that are made from ripe jalapenos. The smoking process involved is very much needed in reducing its level of sweetness.
Since they both happen to share the same heat level, there is little or nothing to worry about as regards the right proportion to put into use since you can use the same amount of chipotle pepper as you would have used ordinarily with Fresno peppers.
Though they both share similar heat levels, the reverse is the case when it comes to their sweetness and fruity flavor, of which the Fresno peppers tend to be better in that aspect.
Read also, 10 Best Substitute For Habanero Pepper To Try Out
4. Jalapeno Peppers
Jalapeno peppers come in next on our list of excellent substitutes for Fresno peppers, one which appears to be less smokey but a little sweeter compared to the aforementioned chipotle peppers of which it births to.
If you desire a high level of heat inside of your dishes, you should be going for the chipotle pepper, however, if you want more flavor than heat you should be sticking with the jalapenos pepper
5. Kashmiri Chilies
Kashmiri red chilies come in as an easy swap for the Fresno peppers, with the similarities shared in their flavor and color making a bold claim for it. However, you should have it at the back of your mind that they do not share the same heat level.
Talking about their heat level, that of the Kashmiri chilies pepper appears to be a bit milder; however, its delicious and complex flavors help compensate for that, particularly in Indian, Kashmiri, and Nepalese cooking.
6. Poblano Peppers
Should you be among one of the few persons who fancy the taste of peppers but not the heat, poblano peppers as a substitute for Fresno peppers is the option of a substitute you should be sticking with.
Characterized by their large, bright green, and mild flavor similar to that of Fresno peppers, however, they remain slightly spicier compared to them
7. Red Chili Peppers
Red chili peppers as a substitute for Fresno peppers do share a whole lot of similarities in terms of their flavor profile, level of heat and sweetness, shape and size, and a few others. They might not be the exact replacement for Fresno peppers, but the fact that they can create a delicious meal while still serving the same purpose as Fresno peppers makes them a better choice.
As a substitute for Fresno peppers, you should always put into use an equal amount of red chili peppers to get your desired heat level tailored, made, and befitting for your recipes or dishes. So basically, should you be looking for a pepper that will give you the same result as you expect of Fresno pepper, the red chili peppers should be the choice you should be going for.
Read also, No Poblano, No Problem:11 Best Substitute For Poblano Pepper
Conclusion
In conclusion, searching for the right choice of pepper to swap in for Fresno peppers on days when they are unavailable is a task that, though it might appear easy, doesn’t turn out to be easy at the end of the day. Since you would have to go through the struggles of finding a good flavor match, of whose heat you can also tolerate as well.
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