The hot cherry peppers are perfect for people who like the mild bitterness and savory flavors. In addition, it’s perfect for dishes that need a tangy and refreshing tone to the recipe, along with a crunchy texture.
However, these hot cherry peppers can be expensive, but there are some affordable substitutes for hot cherry peppers that will add similar flavor, texture, and aroma to the recipe!
Substitute For Hot Cherry Peppers
1. Sweet Cherry Peppers
Sweet cherry peppers are suitable for people who want to add hot cherry peppers to their recipe but don’t mind a slightly different flavor. This is because it can be added to create a similar color to the recipe.
It makes a fine addition to cheesesteaks and pasta. The sweet cherry peppers can be stuffed with meat and cheese just as you would stuff the hot cherry peppers.
2. Sweety Drop Peppers
Sweety drop peppers are a suitable substitute for hot cherry peppers if you don’t like the huge size of cherry peppers. The sweety drop peppers are available in a pickled form and will add sweet flavor and mild heat to the recipe.
In fact, sweety drop peppers are enriched with vitamin C, so they are suitable for your immune system as well. These peppers can be easily added to baked potatoes, pizzas, and sandwiches. Lastly, it works great as a garnish.
3. Rocoto Chiles
The rocoto chiles are commonly called manzanas and are an apt substitute for hot cherry peppers if you want to add spiciness to the recipe. The rocoto chiles are popular for their citrusy and sweet flavors but they can be extremely spicy and hot as well.
These peppers are suitable for stir-fries as well as sauces. However, before you use them, it is suggested to soak them in water overnight as it helps with the flavor and overall texture.
4. Pepperoncini
For everyone who is trying to add mild spiciness and tanginess of hot cherry peppers in the recipe but cannot find them, there won’t be anything better than pepperoncini.
While it can add a similar flavor, the color is quite different, which will change the appearance of your recipe. Pepperoncini is commonly added to Greek salads, but they taste well in pizzas and sandwiches as well.
5. Sweet Red Peppers
If you only want to copy the texture and color of the hot cherry peppers and flavor and aroma aren’t your concern, you can opt for sweet red peppers. The sweet red peppers won’t be too sweet or hot, which means it’s a perfect choice for people who have a bad stomach or cannot tolerate spices.
On the other hand, if you want to increase the spiciness in the dish, you can add some cayenne pepper flakes and red pepper flakes.
6. Giardiniera
Giardiniera is a suitable choice substitute for hot cherry peppers in relishes and salsas. It is basically an Italian mixture of pickled vegetables, including celery, carrots, and cauliflower.
The best thing about giardiniera is that you will be able to find it in the canned vegetable section of any grocery store, and it is affordable.
7. Pickled Jalapenos
Another easily available substitute for hot cherry peppers is pickled jalapenos. Pickled jalapenos are better for adding a similar pepper flavor to your recipe.
The pickled jalapenos can replace hot cherry peppers in nachos and can be stirred with a bread batter to make spicy bread.
8. Red Bell Peppers
The red bell peppers are suitable for people who want a more accessible option. This is because the red bell peppers are easier to find and can be used in various recipes. Red bell peppers can be used in stir-fries, roasted vegetables, salsa, sauce, salads, and chili.
Also, the red bell peppers are available in different forms, such as roasted, marinated, and pickled, to ensure there is something for everyone.
9. Pimentos
Pimentos have a similar taste when compared to hot cherry peppers, but there will be a slight difference in the sweetness level. To add sweetness to your recipe, you can add some honey.
Pimentos are only suitable for replacing chopped and sliced hot cherry peppers because pimentos are not suitable for stuffing, given their thin skin. Pimentos are not very spicy and actually develop a pleasant aroma when they are cooked and prepared with other ingredients.
Pimentos can replace hot cherry peppers in casseroles and stir-fries. They can be purchased in fresh form, but it will be easier to find the jarred version.
You must remember that jarred pimentos won’t have the bright color and crunch that fresh pimentos are famous for. So, if you prefer fresh pimentos, they can be found at farmer’s markets.
10. Poblano Peppers
When you are looking for hot cherry pepper substitutes, poblano peppers actually make a reliable choice. This is because these peppers have meaty and thick walls, which makes these peppers suitable for stuffing.
These peppers can hold their structure even after cooking. Also, the peppers have large cavities, which is another reason why they are food for stuffing. These peppers have a low level of sweetness, and it doesn’t have the grassy flavor that hot cherry peppers are famous for.
Poblano peppers have a mild heat; they are spicier than bell peppers but are milder when compared to jalapenos. These peppers are easily available in large-scale supermarkets and are actually pretty affordable.
11. Cubanelle Peppers
These are sweeter, crunchy, and mildly spicy peppers. Cubanelle peppers can replace hot cherry peppers in salads, pizza toppings, and casseroles. In addition, these peppers can be diced and added to mirepoix.
These peppers have thin walls, but they can be stuffed with other vegetables, spices, and meat. Cubanelle peppers are milder as compared to poblano peppers and have a light green appearance that looks good when added to the food.
12. Anaheim Peppers
Anaheim peppers have a peppery and fruity flavor, which complements a variety of recipes. In raw form, it adds a crunchy texture. Their flavor intensifies when they are cooked and creates a tangy and smoky undertone.
Just like poblano peppers, these peppers have thick walls, so they can be stuffed. These peppers tend to be spicier as compared to bell peppers, but the heat is tolerable.
13. Sichuan Peppers
Sichuan peppers are perfect for people who cannot consume hot cherry peppers due to digestion issues and allergies, but you will have to put up with the heat. This is a Chinese pepper that is known as a combination of black pepper and chili pepper.
These peppers have a citrusy flavor and will create a tingling sensation, given the spice level. However, it has the capacity of overpowering other ingredients in the recipe, so be careful about how much you add.
14. Bok Choy
Bok choy might seem an alienated substitute, but it works well in recipes that need hot cherry peppers. Bok choy has a juicy, crispy, and crunchy texture with thick walls.
It can be used in stewing, steaming, and boiling recipes, particularly when the recipes involve onions and garlic. Its flavor is sweet and doesn’t have any heat at all.
15. Bell Peppers
There are different types of bell peppers, but they only differ in color. This is because all bell peppers have the same sweetness level and mild spiciness. Green bell peppers are the sweetest, but it’s still not a significant difference in the flavor.
However, it’s better to use red bell peppers as you need a substitute for hot cherry peppers that are red in color. It will ensure that the taste, appearance, aroma, and texture are the same.
16. Piquillo Peppers
These peppers are known as sweet chili peppers and have mild heat with a higher sweetness level. In addition, these peppers are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E, which makes them a healthier choice as well. Also, these peppers can be stuffed with cheese, seafood, and meat.
17. Peppadew Peppers
Peppadew peppers have a perfect flavor combination of spicy pepper and sweetness. These peppers look like cherry tomatoes, but there is no relation between the two. If you want to use peppadew peppers, it is better to use the pickled version because it has a more developed flavor.