Chili peppers, also known as chile peppers, are the fruits of plants from the genus Capsicum. These peppers are widely used in cooking to add heat, flavor, and color to a variety of dishes. There are many different varieties of chili peppers, each with its own unique characteristics in terms of heat level, flavor, and appearance.

Among the most popular chili powders in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine is the Aleppo chili powder. It's made from Halaby or Aleppo peppers, native to Syria and Turkey, that have been dried and ground.

Heat Level

To recreate the spice of hot paprika, the best substitute is another dried chilli, like ground cayenne, aleppo pepper powder, crushed red pepper flakes, red chilli powder, or even a dash of hot sauce. If your recipe calls for smokiness and sweetness, try chipotle chilli powder or ancho pepper powder. Chipotle powder has a smoky taste, but is hotter than paprika with a more earthy flavour, lending itself to barbecue sauces, rubs and chillis. Due to the difference in heat, use a ¼ teaspoon of chipotle powder for every teaspoon of paprika and adjust depending on your taste buds.

If you’re looking to replicate the flavour of sweet paprika add a pinch of sugar or some honey. Adding mild chilli powder or tomato powder works too. Bell peppers are another great substitute for sweet paprika and they come from the same Capsicum annuum family. Mild, sweet and aromatic, bell peppers give the same delicious taste and aroma, while adding a splash of colour too. When buying your bell peppers, make sure they’re nice and ripe.

One of the best substitutes for paprika is cayenne pepper. It’s a spicy chilli pepper, used to flavour many different cuisines and quite similar in colour. It’s a lot stronger and hotter than paprika, so if you’re using it as a substitute in your cooking, make sure you use a lesser quantity. If you have a lower tolerance to spicy food, you can add salt, cream, chopped tomatoes or more liquid (water or broth) to try and dial down the heat.

Like paprika, chilli powder packs a lot of flavour and is another worthy substitute. It’s also not as spicy as cayenne pepper, so you can use the same quantities.  The same goes for cajun spices. A combination of black and white pepper, plus other herbs and spices, it can work as a good substitute for smoked or sweet paprika, offering a similar flavour. But you won’t get the same beautiful red colour – more of an orange, warm hue.

You can also use cumin instead of paprika. But it’s a lot hotter, so go easy on the quantities. Like cajun spices, you won’t achieve the gorgeous red colour of paprika, as cumin has more of a yellowy-brown colouring, but you’ll still get an earthy flavour with hints of bitterness and sweetness.

Cayenne Pepper Vs. Chili Powder

When it comes to nutritional value, paprika and bell pepper have some similarities and differences. Both are low in calories, high in fiber, and contain vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for health.

It's important to note that while chili peppers offer potential health benefits, individual responses to spicy foods can vary. Some people may experience digestive discomfort or irritation from consuming chili peppers, particularly in large amounts. As with any dietary component, it's best to consume chili peppers in moderation as part of a balanced diet.