green.recipes
Kitchen guide Updated October 19, 2026

Aleppo Pepper: What It Is and the Best Substitutes

Aleppo pepper is a flaky, fruity, moderately hot red pepper, and when you cannot find it, several close swaps and one easy homemade blend can fill in.

Editors Miraç Eroğlu, Utku Eroğlu

Key points
  • Aleppo pepper is a flaky, fruity, slightly smoky red pepper with moderate heat [1][3].
  • It tends to be half as spicy as regular crushed red pepper flakes, so adjust the amount when swapping [2].
  • Marash and Antebi peppers are excellent Turkish substitutes, and ancho chili powder is the closest for spiciness [2][5].
  • For a pantry fix, blend equal parts crushed chili flakes and Hungarian sweet paprika, or cayenne and paprika [3][5].
  • A homemade blend of gochugaru, oil, smoked paprika, cumin and sea salt keeps in a sealed container for up to one month [4].

What Aleppo pepper is

Aleppo pepper comes from the town of Aleppo in northern Syria [1]. The flaky crushed sun-dried pepper has a slightly smoky flavor [1]. Its name originates from a city in northern Syria where peppers are sun-dried with salt [2]. It is often found in a crushed, flaky form [3].

Because of the Syrian civil war, most Aleppo pepper is now grown in Turkey and the United States [2]. That is one reason the name on a jar and the origin of the pepper inside it may not match.

How it tastes and how hot it is

Aleppo pepper is a medium-spicy, fruity red pepper with complex heat that fades quickly [1]. It has a subtle, smoky earthiness with a raisin-like scent and moderate heat [3]. Its flavor is said to be reminiscent of pasilla chiles [3]. It is known for its deep red color and slightly sweet yet spicy flavor [2].

The key point for substituting is heat. Aleppo pepper brings more flavor than average red chile flakes but not the heat [2]. It is about half as spicy as regular crushed red pepper flakes [2]. In a steak and aioli, Aleppo pepper from northern Syria gives a sweet, earthy flavor [1].

How to use it

Aleppo pepper can be added to a variety of sauces, soups, marinades and rubs [3]. It can be used during cooking, and also afterwards as a finishing spice [3]. It can be used in place of ordinary dried and crushed red chilies [3].

It suits many dishes, from meat to dips to Turkish poached eggs [2]. Dried urpa or Aleppo pepper, or hot paprika, is an ideal seasoning for roast pepper spread [1].

  • Stir it into sauces, soups, marinades and rubs while cooking [3].
  • Sprinkle it over finished dishes as a finishing spice [3].
  • Try it on meat, in dips, or on Turkish poached eggs [2].

Where to find it

Aleppo pepper can be found in Middle Eastern groceries and online [1]. It is usually found in Middle Eastern supermarkets, spice shops, or online [2]. It can also be found in Middle Eastern and Greek markets, as well as many gourmet grocery stores [3].

It is not always easy to track down. One article attributes the shortage to the civil war in Syria [5]. In that article, Rucker says he has not seen Aleppo pepper since late spring or early summer [5].

If you do buy a jar, check how long it has been in your cabinet. Spices have shelf lives, and old spices taste like sawdust [5]. One source advises replacing any spices that have been in the cabinet since this time last year [5].

The best substitutes

Almost any red pepper flakes can replace Aleppo pepper, with a caveat: Aleppo pepper tends to be half as spicy as regular crushed red pepper flakes [2]. You need to adjust the amount you use to achieve similar results [2]. Start with the table below, then choose by what you want to match: heat, smokiness, or sweetness.

For the closest match in character, look to Turkish peppers. Either Marash or Antebi pepper is an excellent substitute for Aleppo [5]. If you want a smoky taste, Marash peppers are the choice [2].

  • Want similar spiciness? Ancho chili powder is recommended as the closest substitute for a similar level of spiciness [2].
  • Want more heat? Reach for crushed red pepper flakes for higher heat levels [2].
  • Want sweet and spicy? Korean gochugaru brings a balance of sweet and spicy [2].
  • Want a pantry fix? Try blending cayenne and paprika [5].

Substitute comparison

Use this table to match a substitute to your dish. Because heat varies, add gradually and adjust to taste [2].

A simple homemade substitute blend

If you cannot find Aleppo pepper, you can substitute a mixture of equal parts dried crushed chili flakes and Hungarian sweet paprika [3]. For a more detailed blend, one recipe combines gochugaru with sunflower oil, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and sea salt to mimic the flavor of Aleppo pepper [4].

The recipe uses 2 tablespoons of gochugaru or another seedless pepper flake [4]. It adds ½ teaspoon of sunflower oil or another neutral-tasting oil, and ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika [4]. To start, place the chili flakes in a small bowl, add the oil, and stir with a spoon to coat the flakes [4].

The blend contains all five ingredients, so mix the smoked paprika, cumin and sea salt in with the oil-coated flakes before treating it as ready [4]. Amounts for the cumin and salt are not listed here, so add them a little at a time and adjust the spices to match the heat and flavor you want [4]. Once mixed, the substitute is ready to use straight away [4].

You can also store it in a sealed container for up to one month [4]. If you use inherently smoky flakes such as chipotle, you can omit the smoked paprika [4]. The blend works well in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or other cuisines calling for Aleppo pepper [4].

Aleppo pepper substitutes at a glance

SubstituteHow it compares to Aleppo pepper
Marash pepperSmokier with a little more heat, but very similar, and its coarse grind makes it a great finishing pepper [5]
Antebi pepperMore fruity and milder than both Aleppo and Marash peppers [5]
Urfa pepperFar darker and much smokier than the other three peppers [5]
Ancho chili powderRecommended as the closest substitute for similar spiciness [2]
Korean gochugaruBrings a balance of sweet and spicy [2]
Crushed red pepper flakesUsed for higher heat levels, so adjust the amount [2]
Cayenne and paprika blendA pantry option when you cannot get to a spice shop [5]
Dried crushed chili flakes plus Hungarian sweet paprikaEqual parts of each make a substitute [3]

Frequently asked questions

Is Aleppo pepper very hot?

No. It is a medium-spicy, fruity red pepper whose heat fades quickly [1]. It tends to be half as spicy as regular crushed red pepper flakes [2].

Can I use regular red pepper flakes instead?

Yes, red pepper flakes can be used as a substitute [1]. Since Aleppo pepper tends to be half as spicy, adjust the amount you use [2].

Which substitute is closest in spiciness?

Ancho chili powder is recommended as the closest substitute for a similar level of spiciness [2].

Which substitute is smokier than Aleppo pepper?

Marash pepper is smokier and carries a little more heat, but is very similar [5]. Urfa pepper is far darker and much smokier than Marash, Antebi and Aleppo [5].

How long does the homemade substitute keep?

It can be stored in a sealed container for up to one month [4].

Sources

  1. Aleppo-Style Pepper (epicurious.com)
  2. Why You Should Consider Spice Levels When Substituting Aleppo Pepper - Tasting Table - Why You Should Consider Spice Lev (tastingtable.com)
  3. What is Aleppo Pepper? | Rouxbe Online Culinary School (surlatableonlineculinaryinstitute.rouxbe.com)
  4. Easy Aleppo Pepper Substitute - Cup of Yum (cupofyum.com)
  5. Can't find Aleppo pepper? Here's why, and what to substitute - Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article (latimes.com)

This guide was drafted with the help of AI writing tools from the numbered sources above and checked by two independent AI reviewers. Editorial policy.

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