Indian cuisine which is known for its fiery and bold flavours relies on chillies and chilly powder for its iconic spicy taste in many dishes such as chicken curry, biryani, paneer masala and many other popular dishes. Chilli powder is indispensable for many reasons such as its fiery flavour and how conveniently it mixes well with the curries or any dish that you are making.
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But there might be times when you will find yourself without this pantry staple and when such time comes, you must be ready to substitute chilli powder with ingredients that will provide the same fiery kick and flavour. In this article, we will look at seven chilli powder substitutes that you should know.
Paprika
Paprika is also made from ground chillies just like chilly powder is, making it a perfect substitute while also sharing a similar colour.
Although paprika is milder than chilli powder in comparison, it carries the same smoky flavour and spiciness.
Cayenne Pepper
A very fiery alternative but it's sure to get your job done if you want to intensify the heat levels of your dish. Cayenne pepper is not like paprika is a milder flavour but in fact, its heat will make you want to use it carefully to not make your dishes over spicy.
It is made from ground and dried pepper and it should be used in smaller quantities.
Whole Chillies
As chilly powder is made from ground chillies, one of the best substitutes that you can use is whole chillies itself. The very source of chilly powder. There are many types of chillies available with green and red chillies often being a part of Indian cuisine. It is recommended to use red chillies rather than green chillies in place of chilly powder due to their more intensified flavour.
Ground Cumin
This alternative is a common ingredient which can also be used when you don't have chilli powder in hand. It is greenish to dark brown powder made by grinding toasted cumin seeds.
This powder carries an earthly taste and is a common ingredient in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine and also some Latin American dishes.
Garlic Powder
It is made from dried and ground garlic and it is an ingredient which is heavily used in almost every cuisine all over the world due to its flavour and how it elevates any dish.
Garlic powder can be used in place of chilli powder in many dishes such as soups, sauces, stir-fries, stews, and marinades or even top your grilled meat with it.
Red Chilli Flakes
These are a combination of many dried and crushed chillies. The flakes are extracted and then are used as a spice to flavour dishes to simply top pizzas, and wraps or provide some spiciness to sandwiches.
You can easily chilli flakes instead of chilli powder in dishes such as pizza, soups, pasta and more. Not just that, it will also add a crunch to your food.
Caraway Powder
Caraway is a common spice with a distinct mild anise flavour. It also features a hint of citrus and pepper. It isn't as strong as chilli powder but it can be used as a substitute.
This powder is perfect when used for spice mixtures and curries.