Adding spiciness to the recipes is a must for people who don’t like bland food. Cubeb pepper is one of the most delectable peppers out there, particularly if you like Moroccan cuisine. Cubeb pepper adds authentic Mexican flavors to the recipe and is a great way of replacing allspice and black pepper in the food. However, it’s quite challenging to find it in grocery stores, which brings us to cubeb pepper substitutes!
Cubeb Pepper Substitutes
1. Allspice & Black Pepper
When it comes down to cubeb pepper, its flavor is quite similar to black pepper and allspice, which is why they are promising alternatives to cubeb pepper. In fact, black pepper belongs to the same botanical family as cubeb pepper. The allspice and black peppers have a similar appearance when compared to cubeb peppers and are extremely easy to find in the grocery stores. All in all, you can opt for a 1:1 ratio.
2. Quatre Epices
This is a French spice that’s a combination of four different spices and is equivalent to the five spice powder. In addition, it is known as a French form of allspice. To illustrate, it has a combination of cloves and black peppers. Moreover, there is nutmeg in this spice blend that adds flavor, and not to forget, there is dried ginger in it. The dried ginger adds peppery flavor notes to the spice, while cloves add a hint of sweetness. It’s recommended that you purchase the premade spice because it’s hard to make your own version at home.
3. Szechuan Peppercorns
Truth be told, this is not a true pepper and adds unique heat to the recipe. In addition, Szechuan peppercorns add piney and citrus notes to the flavor. These peppercorns have significant heat, which is why it goes well with savory recipes. As compared to cubeb peppers, Szechuan peppercorns will have a numbing effect on your tongue.
4. White Peppercorns
White peppercorns have a small size and are plucked from the fully ripened berries. It has a milder flavor as compared to black peppercorns, which means it adds a similar flavor to the recipe, but the dark color and heat will be eliminated. Having said that, if you want to make soup and don’t want to darken its appearance by adding black pepper, you can opt for white pepper.
5. Green Pepper
The green peppers are made from unripe berries and are treated to ensure the green color is retained – the treatment often includes exposing the plucked berries to sulfur dioxide. It has a fresh and spicy flavor, along with a bright aroma. In addition, the green peppers aren’t very pungent, especially if you compare them to black pepper. Green pepper can be used in place of cubeb pepper when you want to enhance the flavor of the meat or if you are making Thai recipes. Last but not least, green peppers have a tarty flavor note as well.
6. Pink Pepper
The pink peppers come from the Peruvian pepper tree and belong to the cashew family. These peppers are native to South America and have a similar flavor as black pepper – it might be milder. In addition, the pink peppers have a sweet aroma, which is why many people prefer the fruitiness of this pepper is compared to the strong and raw punch. As far as the user is concerned, pink pepper can be used in bakery items, risotto, wines, and meats.
7. Papaya Seeds
Papaya seeds are the most unconventional substitute for cubeb pepper, and the substitution is quite convenient. However, to use these papaya seeds, it’s recommended that you bake or air-fry the seeds and then crush them to add the powder to the recipe.
8. Capers
Capers are defined as the green peppers that are plucked from the Capparis shrub – these peppercorns are native to the Mediterranean region. It can be added to the recipe in dried or brined form without compromising on the flavor. Capers can enhance the flavor and texture of various recipes, such as stews, pasta, and fish. In addition, it adds saltiness and sour tones to the food. For the most part, capers are used as dressing or condiments.
9. Sichuan Peppercorns
If you don’t mind the numbing and tingling effect, Sichuan peppercorns are a perfect choice. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that these peppers have a pungent and bold flavor.