There are a lot of different peppers in the world which are quite popularly used for cooking purposes in a wide range of different dishes to add more flavour to all of them. Marash pepper is a pepper and it is certainly used for cooking, but it isn’t one of the most popular options out there depending on where you live.
It is a type of pepper that originates from Turkey, and it has a nice unique feel of its own which makes it very popular in cooking in Turkish regions.
However outside of these regions, the marash pepper isn’t all that famous. Still, because of its popularity in Turkey, it is a very important part of many unique Turkish cuisines.
If users have taken an interest in said cuisines but can’t follow the recipes for them because there’s no way to get their hands on the ingredient, there’s no need to worry.
There are a few marash pepper substitutes out there which are more than capable of replicating its adored feel, and these are all listed below with further details.
Great Marash Pepper Substitutes
- Antebi Peppers
One of the best possible options out all when it comes to suitable replacements for marash peppers is the Antebi pepper. These are somewhat more popular ingredients that taste very similar to marash peppers in a way.
There are a lot of likenesses between the two in just about every regard. This even includes appearance, as the two have a very identical look to them. Both are flakes similar in terms of colour and in terms of texture as well. But moving on to the more important likeness, they taste somewhat identical too.
In terms of overall feel, both Antebi peppers and marash peppers are actually very different from one another at times. However, they provide a similar twist to whatever foods they’re added in, which is exactly why the two are so popularly interchangeable.
The only real difference between the two is that Antebi peppers have a milder, fruitier taste with them that is much more noticeable compared to the smokier taste which marash peppers usually feature.
- Red Pepper Flakes
Perhaps one of the most efficient and convenient substitutes out of all those on this list are red pepper flakes. The main reason why marash peppers are so popular in the first place is that they provide a nice, smoky and spicy feeling to any food in which they are added to.
This is exactly what red pepper flakes do too. They even look somewhat similar at first glance, although admittedly the difference between the two in this regard is noticeable when you compare them side by side.
That is fine though, as appearance doesn’t matter at all in this sense. What does matter is that the two have a similar spiciness to them which is easily interchangeable. This substitute in particular is one of the best one of them all thanks to the fact that red pepper flakes are very common.
They’re already found in most households, and can easily be found at any local store that features spices even if users don’t have it already.
- Urfa Pepper
Urfa pepper is a great substitute as well, but only in very specific cases. The reason for this is quite simple. This specific type of pepper is a lot smokier and spicier than the other ones listed here. It is much more than capable of providing the same spicy feel as the marash pepper, and instead provides a feel well beyond that with a similar taste. It may not be the best option for those who can’t handle smoky/spicy flavours.
- Aleppo peppers
The last and perhaps the best option of them all worth trying out is the Aleppo pepper. This is a popular ingredient as well which is used in many dishes to add a smoky taste. It is very similar to both marash peppers and Antebi peppers, as it provides a taste similar to both of them combined in a way. Much like the two, it also features a very similar appearance and texture too.