Aleppo Spice Recipe

We can know about the origin of the Aleppo spice from its name. Aleppo pepper is specifically produced in the Aleppo region of northern Syria. It is an essential ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.

This Syrian spice has a distinctive flavor that no other pepper can provide. The distinctive aspect is its fruity flavor. This fruitiness brings a balance of sweetness and tanginess. Overall, the Aleppo spice delivers a perfect combination of balanced heat, smokiness, and subtle sweetness with a tangy undertone.

We are here to tell you the Aleppo spice recipe with its uses in your cocking experiments and substitute options of the Aleppo pepper blend.

What is Aleppo Spice?

Aleppo spice is also known as Aleppo pepper mix. Aleppo pepper is a type of Capsicum annuum. Capsicum annuum is a broad family that includes bell peppers, sweet peppers, jalapenos, and various chili peppers. It is highly aromatic and flavorful. The heat of Aleppo spice is neither overpowering nor so mild. It also provides smoky and earthy flavors that enhance overall flavor.

Authentic Aleppo Spice Ingredients

The ingredient list is very simple to prepare the authentic Aleppo spice. The ingredients include;

1. Fresh Aleppo Peppers – 10 pieces 
2. Olive Oil (Optional) – 1 teaspoon
3. Salt (Optional) – 1 teaspoon (Use according to your taste)

How to Make Aleppo Spice: Easy 5 Steps

We will present the homemade Aleppo seasoning recipe. You can use this seasoning with various dishes to improve the taste and to enjoy Mediterranean flavors.

Step 1: Prepare the Aleppo Pepper

You have to begin the process by preparing the Aleppo spice for drying. Do the following;

• Select 10 pieces of Aleppo peppers. You need to make sure that the peppers are mature enough and there is no physical damage on the surfaces.  
• Now, wash the peppers and cut the stem of the peppers.
• You can also remove the seeds if you want to reduce the heat.

Note: The Aleppo provides moderate heat. So, removing seeds is not compulsory.   

Step 2: Drying

After preparing the peppers. The second step is to dry the peppers.

• To dry the Aleppo peppers, you can use the traditional method or any modern method of drying.
• If you want to dry in the traditional method, then apply sundry. Place the Aleppo peppers on a sheet and keep them under the sun. It may take about a week to dry the peppers.
• Moreover, you can use a dehydrator to dry the peppers. It will take a few hours to dry the peppers.
• Additionally, if you don’t have a dehydrator, you can use an oven. You have to dry the peppers in an oven at a very low temperature. Otherwise, the peppers will be burnt.

Step 3: Cooling & Grinding

If you apply sun dry you may not require cooling. But, when you apply dehydrator or oven to dry the peppers, you have to cool the peppers first.

• Keep the dried Aleppo pepper at room temperature for an hour.
• Then, you can use a mortar or a spice grinder to crush the dried peppers.
• The texture of Aleppo spice will not be fine like other chili powder. It will be crushed or coarsely ground in texture.
• So, if you want the authentic texture, grind slowly for a few seconds and then repeat 2 or 3 times.
• Lastly, you will get coarse uneven flakes of Aleppo pepper.

Step 4: Seasoning

Seasoning is generally an optional step. Seasoning will enhance the flavor and also improve the shelf life. So, experts suggest applying some seasoning.

• You can add a small amount of olive oil to the crushed Aleppo pepper, it will bring out the natural aroma and oil from the peppers.
• Besides, salt is another seasoning ingredient here. Add some salt to the crushed chili. It will increase the shelf life by helping to preserve the spice.

Note: You can add other seasoning ingredients with the crushed smoky, fruity chili. For example, adding cumin powder, black pepper powder, garlic powder, and paprika to the Aleppo spice can create a unique and satisfying flavor. Yet, professionals suggest, that if you want to get the authentic flavor of Aleppo spice, you can avoid other seasoning ingredients. 

Step 5: Storage Pepper

The last step is the storage process. This step is very important. Otherwise, the flavor will deteriorate easily and rapidly. So do the following to preserve its freshness and potency.

• Keep this Syrian chili blend in an airtight container.
• Airtight the container every time after use.
• Avoid using wet spoons in the container.
• And, keep the container in a cool, dry, and dark place.
• After maintaining the storage procedure, you can use this Aleppo spice for up to 3 months.

Aleppo Pepper Substitute

Aleppo peppers is basically a Middle Eastern spice. So, these Syrian peppers are not always available in other parts of the world. So! Can’t you prepare this Mediterranean chili spice at your home? Don’t worry. We are here to tell you some useful substitutes for Aleppo spice.

1. Urfa Biber

Urfa Biber is a Turkish pepper variety that provides similar flavors to the Aleppo pepper. But it is less acidic and gives a darker color than the Aleppo Pepper. You can use an equal quantity of Urfa Biber in the place of Aleppo spice. 

2. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes + Paprika

Crushed red pepper flakes give the heat and texture like Aleppo pepper. On the other hand, paprika provides a smoky flavor to the spice. You just need to combine 1 part crushed red pepper flakes and 2 parts paprika to prepare a good substitute for Aleppo spice. 

3. Cayenne Pepper + Smoked Paprika

Combining 1 part of cayenne pepper and 2 parts of smoked paprika can be another useful substitute for Aleppo spice. Cayenne adds the heat and smoked paprika adds the smokiness.

4. Ancho Chili Powder

Ancho Chili Powder is prepared from dried Ancho chilies. It also provides smoky, earthy, and a little bit fruity flavors with a moderate heat level like the Aleppo spice. You can use an equal quantity of Ancho chili powder as Aleppo spice.

5. Pasilla Chili Powder

The flavor of Pasilla chili is quite similar to the Aleppo pepper. It provides mild to moderate heat with smoky, fruity, partially tangy, and earthy flavors. You can use the Pasilla chili powder as a substitute for Aleppo peppers. Adding a squeeze of lemon can replicate the perfect tangy flavor of Aleppo spice.

Aleppo Pepper Uses in Cooking

There are versatile uses for this mild chili seasoning. We will describe 5 of them in this section.

1. Spicing Up Meats & Poultry

Mediterranean spice blend pairs perfectly with meats and poultry. You can use Aleppo spice to roasted chicken, grilled turkey, or BBQ pork for spicing up.

2. Spicing Up Egg Dishes

Like meat, egg dishes are a perfect combo with the Aleppo spice. You can use the Aleppo pepper blend to egg scramble or egg omelet to create a rich and smoky flavor with a mild heat.

3. Salad & Vegetables Seasoning

You can use the Aleppo seasoning for salads, sautéed vegetables, or boiled vegetables. It makes the salad or vegetables palatable by adding spiciness, tanginess, and a satisfying aroma.  

4. Adding Depth to Sauce

You can mix the sauce with the Aleppo spice. It makes the sauce more flavorful. Tomato sauce has a mild acidity and Aleppo spice complements the acidity of the tomato sauce. 

5. Sprinkled Over Pizza 

Aleppo pepper tastes good with pizza. You can use the Aleppo spice as a pizza seasoning. Sprinkle over the pizza and then enjoy the amazing flavorful pizza.

Aleppo Pepper VS Crushed Red Pepper

Characteristics	Aleppo Pepper	Crushed Red Pepper
Origin	Origin in Syria and parts of the Middle East	Widely used in Western Cuisines
Heat Level	Moderate(Scoville Heat Unit: 10000 – 25000 SHU)	Hotter(Scoville Heat Unit: 30000 – 50000 SHU)
Flavor Profile	Smoky, fruity, tangy, slightly sweet	Sharp, slightly bitter, pungent
Texture	Coarse and uneven flakes	Fine, powdered, or crushed
Color	Reddish brown to deep red	Bright Red
Aroma	Smoky & aromatic	Sharper and more pungent
Preservation	Preserve with oil & Salt	Preserved dry without oil & salt
Substitutes	Urfa Biber, Ancho chili powder, Pasilla chili powder	Paprika and cayenne powder

Conclusion

After reading the article on the Aleppo spice recipe, we hope you get a clear knowledge of how to prepare the Aleppo spice, how you can use this spice in your cooking, and how you can manage to get the flavor of Aleppo spice when the Aleppo peppers are not available in your area.

Give a try on preparing the special Mediterranean spice blend and enjoy Mediterranean cuisine at your table. Varieties in diets increase the appetite. So, when you feel that your taste in food becomes vulnerable, you can try this Middle Eastern flavorful spice to improve your taste.