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The Calabrian chili is a medium-heat pepper that is often used in Italian cuisine. They are rated 5000-40 000 Scoville heat units on the Scoville Scale.
Calabrian chilies are rare and delicious. You can use Calabrian chilies in pasta, pizza, stews, soups, salsas, and garlic bread. They are delicious, both raw and cooked.
The Calabrian chili is high in vitamin C, and it also contains vitamins A and B-6, potassium, magnesium, and iron.
Calabrian chilies are predominantly grown in the Italian city of Calabria, which makes them difficult to source in other parts of the world. If you’ve ever tried Calabrian chilies at a restaurant, you are probably hooked and looking for a way to use them at home.
Since these chilies are rare and difficult to source, you may need to satisfy your craving for them with a substitute. Several ingredients have a similar flavor and texture to the Calabrian chili.
Calabrian Chili Substitute
If you cannot purchase fresh Calabrian chilies in your area, try locating Calabrian chili oil or paste. You might even be able to find Calabrian chilies preserved in oil. This way, you can buy in bulk and be able to enjoy Calabrian chilies for years to come.
If you cannot find Calabrian chilies in any form, there are a few other substitutes listed below:
1. Anaheim Peppers
Anaheim peppers make an excellent substitute for the Calabrian chili. Anaheim peppers are much easier to source than Calabrian chilies. These peppers originate from New Mexico and are very popular in the United States.
A farmer brought the peppers to the city of Anaheim in California in the early 1900s, which is when these peppers started to become truly popular.
Anaheim peppers are fairly mild. They have rated 500-2500 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. Anaheim peppers are a less spicy variety of the cultivar New Mexico No. 9, so choose the variety which suits your tastebuds best.
Since Anaheim peppers are mild compared to Calabrian chilies, you may want to use a larger quantity of them in your recipe. Anaheim peppers are usually used while still green, but they can be used when they turn red.
2. Chili Flakes
Calabrian chilies are often used to add juiciness, spiciness, and saltiness to dishes. While chili flakes will not make your dish juicier, they can add spiciness and saltiness.
Chili flakes are very versatile and can be added to a wide variety of dishes. You can even add more chili flakes to a dish after it has been cooked.
This allows you to customize the heat of the dish to suit your preference. Chili flakes are easy to source, unlike Calabrian chilies, and you can find them in most supermarkets. If you cannot find chili flakes in your local supermarket, you can even make them yourself.
You can either grow chilies in your garden or buy a big batch of them from your local grocer while they are in season. You can use a dehydrator or even your oven to dry the chilies out.
Chop the chilies into small pieces, and place them in your oven or dehydrator for 12 hours at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If your oven does not go this low, leave the oven’s door slightly open to allow some of the heat to escape.
When the chilies are dried, crush them and place them in a shaker for storage. Remember to use gloves when working with chilies, and do not put your hands anywhere near your face!
3. Serrano Peppers
The Serrano pepper is another pepper that originated in Mexico. Serrano peppers are very similar to jalapenos, both in appearance and flavor.
Like the Calabrian chili, the Serrano pepper is considered a medium-heat pepper. This makes them an excellent substitute for the Calabrian chili.
The Serrano pepper is not as hot as the Calabrian chili and is ranked at 10 000- 23 000 Scoville heat units. Serrano peppers are common and very easy to source. The Serrano pepper is the ideal substitute for the Calabrian chili if you enjoy the heat of the Calabrian chili.
Conclusion
Calabrian chilies are delicious medium-heat peppers. Unfortunately, they are predominantly grown in the Italian city of Calabria, which makes them difficult to source in other parts of the world.
If you can’t find fresh Calabrian chilies, you can look for Calabrian chili paste or oil. Anaheim peppers, chili flakes, and Serrano peppers all make excellent substitutes for Calabrian chilies.
They have a similar flavor and texture to the Calabrian chilies and are much easier to source.