These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Jalapeno peppers have a bright flavor and are used in a wide variety of recipes. It can be used as a topping in drinks and also in the most classic fresh salsa and guacamole.
With all the different varieties of peppers, there are a few good ones that you can use as a substitute for jalapeo peppers.
You may browse through the list we’ve compiled.
- Poblano Pepper
- Serrano Pepper
- Fresno Pepper
- Anaheim Pepper
- Banana Pepper
- Bell Pepper
- Habanero Pepper
- Cubanelle Pepper
- Fresh Cayenne Pepper
Let’s take a look at each of them individually. But first, let’s learn a little more about this fiery element.
Contents
- 18 Best Substitute For Jalapeno
- FAQs
- What spice can I use in place of jalapeno pepper?
- What pepper is most similar to a jalapeño?
- Can you get non spicy jalapeños?
- Is poblano hotter than jalapeño?
- Which is hotter jalapeño or cayenne?
- Which is hotter paprika or jalapeño?
- What pepper is 40 times hotter than a jalapeño?
- What is the hottest jalapeño variety?
- What is the most spicy natural pepper?
- What are the least spicy jalapeños?
18 Best Substitute For Jalapeno
Jalapeo (ha-la-PEEN-yo) peppers belong to the family of capsicum annum, a species of the plant genus Capsicum. Southern North America, northern South America, and the Caribbean are rich in capsicum. [Source]
It is quite common to see farmers of jalapeos in California and throughout the American Southwest.
It has a grassier flavor than other peppers. Most of these peppers are colored deep green, although there are red, purple, and other colors when they ripen. They typically grow from 2 to 3 inches long. [Source]
The heat range of jalapeos ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units, which is almost similar to the heat range of Fresno peppers, which is at 2,500-10,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). But jalapeo peppers are not as hot as cayenne peppers, which are at 30,000 to 50,000 SHU. [Source]
We recommend poblano peppers as one of the best jalapenos as they are also moderately spicy
Poblano Pepper
Poblano peppers are moderately spicy and an ideal substitute for jalapeo peppers. They have a SHU of 1000-1,500. They have a dark green color.
They may be used in curry meals and soups. There are a lot of things that you can do with poblano peppers fried, stuffed, grilled, or charred they have thick skin that can withstand high temperatures and extended cooking times.
If you want to get the level of heat of jalapeos, but you dont want to make the dish extremely spicy, add gradually while cooking. You may make changes based on your preferences. You use poblano peppers instead of jalapeos in your grilled, stuffed, or fried dishes.
Serrano Pepper
Serrano peppers add more heat to your dishes without altering the taste and flavor. They have the same flavor as jalapeo peppers, only hotter, registering 10,000-30,000 SHU. They are named after Mexican mountain ridges.
Unripe serrano peppers are green, and they turn into dark red or brown as they ripen. The right technique is to cook them first, then remove the skin, before adding them to your dishes.
Serrano peppers are digested easily because they have thin skin. You can add them to your salads and salsa recipes.
Fresno Pepper
Fresno peppers almost have the same heat level as jalapeo, only with a slightly different flavor. It has a smoky flavor, fruity aroma, and crispy texture. You can use them in recipes where the taste of the jalapeos can be changed without affecting the overall flavor of the dish.
Green Fresno peppers are less spicy and have an earthier flavor. Ripe Fresno peppers are often mistaken for red jalapeos.
Fresno has a maximum heat index of 10,000 SHU. The optimal substitution ratio is one to one.
Anaheim Pepper
Anaheim peppers have a fruity, peppery flavor. When they are uncooked, they are crispy. They take on a smokey, tart taste when cooked.
Because of their large walls, they are great for stuffing. Anaheim belongs to the group of peppers with moderate heat, having a heat index of 500-2,500 SHU.
They are ideal substitutes for jalapeos in soups, stews, and enchiladas. They have the same green hue as jalapeos. The optimal ratio is one to one.
Banana Pepper
Banana peppers are one of the non-spicy alternatives to jalapeo peppers. Also called yellow wax pepper, they are one of the mildest peppers available. Unripe banana peppers are green in color, and they turn yellow when ripe.
Their heat level ranges from 0 to 50 SHU. You can use them as jalapeo substitutes in recipes where tanginess and intense heat are not a requirement. Examples are fritters, pizza toppings, soups, and garnishes, among others.
Bell Pepper
Another non-spicy substitute for jalapeo peppers is bell peppers. They are not as spicy as jalapeos, but they can provide the same texture to your dishes.
They actually have a score of zero units on the Scoville scale. Theyre the mildest alternative to jalapeo. They have a sweet, roasted flavor.
You can stuff them, grill, or roast them, and theyll still have the same crunchy texture of jalapeos. You can also add them as toppings to your pizza or add to your sandwiches.
A roasted bell pepper drizzled with olive oil serves well on top of a dry bruschetta. However, they are not ideal to use in salads or salsa to replace jalapeos.
Habanero Pepper
Habanero peppers are extremely hot, registering 300,000 to 445,000 SHU. They are available in vivid green or orange.
Habanero peppers are the perfect substitute for jalapeo peppers in fruit-based sauces, salsas, and nachos. They have a delicious and tropical taste.
Being more than 70 times spicier than jalapeos, they will be a good addition to dishes that you want to be spicier.
Our recommendation is to use only a small amount of habaneros in your recipe, depending on the level of heat you want to give your dishes. Removing the seeds and membranes make them a little milder.
Cubanelle Pepper
Cubanelle peppers are also called Cuban peppers. They are a sweeter alternative to jalapeos. They are usually light yellow or green, but when ripe they turn red. Their heat level is 1,000 SHU.
They will make a good substitution in salads of mixed greens, and you can also use them as pizza toppings. Cubanelle peppers are more slender than jalapeo peppers, and they make a great addition to your stuffing for meat or to any vegetable dish.
Fresh Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne peppers are easily identified by their brilliantly red color and curled tip. Raw cayenne peppers are a good substitute for jalapeos. They have a heat level higher than jalapeos, getting a reading of 30,000 to 50,000 on the Scoville scale. For every 1 part of jalapeo pepper in your recipe, use part of fresh cayenne pepper.
It grows spicier when cooked. It tastes sweet and smokey. Add them to your salsa to add a crunchy element. You can also add them to your enchilada sauces, stew recipes, and flavor rubs.
Cayenne Pepper Powder
Cayenne pepper powder has a heat reading of 50,000 SHU, making it roughly 12 times hotter than jalapeos. If you can tolerate heat in your dishes, you can add this powder to many recipes.
Our recommendation is to use tablespoon of cayenne pepper powder for every 1 jalapeo pepper in the recipe. You can increase the amount if you want your food spicier. The key is to add gradually.
For added texture, you can mix bell peppers with cayenne pepper powder in your recipes.
Green Chillies
Green chillies also make a good replacement for jalapeos if you run out of the ingredient. They have a similar chili-like flavor and aroma, and appealing green color.
Chili Powder
Chile or chili powder is another fiery replacement for jalapeo pepper when making sauces, stews, and soups. However, do not add them to your salads or use them as toppings in your pizzas.
Smoked Paprika Powder
Smoked paprika has a heat level score of 25 to 1,000 SHU. It is a blend of many dried peppers. The paprika powder adds a soft and sweet red pepper flavor and color to your dishes.
You may use them in spicy sauces and salsas. You can also sprinkle it over spiced eggs or use it to enhance meat rubs.
Hot Sauce
Hot sauce or more popularly known as Tabasco sauce is a combination of Tabasco pepper, salt, and vinegar. It is an excellent replacement for jalapeos in recipes where it is used as a wet flavoring.
Hot sauces have the same warmth profile as jalapeos and their flavors are almost the same.
You can add hot sauce to your salsas or add a few drops to your pizza to make it spicy. Mix hot sauce with other milder peppers like Anaheim peppers or bell peppers for a spicier flavor in your dishes than jalapeo peppers.
Pickled Jalapenos
If your local supermarket doesnt have fresh jalapeos, you might be able to find pickled jalapeos, which can also be a good substitute. For one, it minimizes your prep time when cooking.
Pickled jalapeos leave a tangy and vinegary flavor to your dishes. The earthy green flavor of fresh jalapeos is replaced with a sharp taste when they are pickled.
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Red Pepper Flakes
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Pepperoncini
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Sichuan Pepper
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
FAQs
What spice can I use in place of jalapeno pepper?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
What pepper is most similar to a jalapeño?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Can you get non spicy jalapeños?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Is poblano hotter than jalapeño?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Which is hotter jalapeño or cayenne?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
Which is hotter paprika or jalapeño?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
What pepper is 40 times hotter than a jalapeño?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
What is the hottest jalapeño variety?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
What is the most spicy natural pepper?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.
What are the least spicy jalapeños?
These are milder than the fresh variety since they are diced before adding the pickling solution, which essentially dissolves the capsaicin. They have a SHU score of 2,500-5,000. You can add them to your salads, salsas, nachos, and sandwiches, and use them as toppings on your pizza.