Aleppo pepper
uh-LEP-oh
Capsicum annuum
Fruity, raisin-like, tart, mild heat.
What it is
Aleppo pepper is a coarse red chile flake from the region around Aleppo in northern Syria and southern Turkey, where it is known as pul biber. It tastes fruity and raisin-like with a tart, almost sun-dried-tomato edge and only a gentle, slow heat, which makes it a finishing spice as much as a cooking one. It seasons grilled meats, eggs, hummus, and vegetables across the eastern Mediterranean. Much of the supply now comes from Turkey. It is closely comparable to Korean gochugaru, sharing the same fruity, moderate-heat character.
Similar but different
Easy to mix up, different enough that swapping changes the dish.
- Gochugarusmoky, fruity, sweet, moderate heat.
Compare head to head
What it pairs with
Goes wrong with: dishes needing fierce heat.
Common in Middle Eastern cooking.
Whole vs ground
Aleppo pepper is sold as coarse, oily, deep-red flakes, often rubbed with a little salt and oil, which keeps it moist and fruity rather than dusty.
How to handle it
Sprinkle over finished dishes like a tart, gentle chile, or stir into marinades and dressings. Its mild heat means you can use it freely for flavor.
Storage
Airtight, cool, and dark. The flakes are slightly oily and keep their fruity flavor for several months.
Buying note
Good Aleppo pepper is moist, deep red, and coarsely ground, not a dry bright-red dust. It may be labeled pul biber.
Classic dishes
muhammara, grilled kebabs, eggs with Aleppo butter, hummus topping.
Out of aleppo pepper? Substitutes
No substitute is exact. These are the closest by flavor behavior, with the ratio to start from and how the result will differ.
| Use instead | Ratio | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Gochugaru | 1:1 | similar fruity, moderate heat, a little less tart |
| mild chile flakes with a pinch of paprika | to taste | covers the heat, misses the tart fruitiness |
One odd thing
Aleppo pepper and Korean gochugaru taste remarkably alike, both fruity and only moderately hot, despite coming from opposite ends of Asia.