Chilli flakes (known as crushed red pepper flakes in many places) are an easy way to add instant heat to any meal.
Chilli flakes are typically made using a mix of dehydrated cayenne peppers that have not been ground into a powder. Though some brands of chilli flakes use other red chilli peppers instead.
They are one the most basic spices everyone should have in their kitchen. What can you use instead if you are low on chilli flakes but still craving that tongue-tingling heat?
Our 3 Substitutes for Chilli Flakes
The heat of chilli flakes will vary depending on the type of red pepper used. Typically, manufacturers tend to stay in the 30,000 – 50,000 Scoville range.
Make no mistake, this is still a sharp heat, but it is not overwhelmingly hot. There also tends to be a slightly earthy taste to chilli flakes.
The flakes themselves can add a different texture to your dish, providing a slight crunch. Though they do not usually change your dish’s texture too much.
Here are our top 3 substitutes for chilli flakes:
1) Cayenne Pepper
When shopping in the herbs and spices aisle, you will most probably find cayenne pepper right next to chilli flakes on the shelf. Cayenne pepper is just as affordable as chilli flakes. Still, it is usually seen as a more exotic option because of its less generic name.
Since most chilli flake products use dried cayenne pepper, the two will taste very similar, if not identical.
Ground cayenne pepper is one of the hotter chilli powders and is noticeably hotter than chilli flakes.
Apart from the heat difference, cayenne pepper is one of the most naturally flavoured chilli powders that can be used interchangeably with chilli flakes.
How to Swap It Out
Ground cayenne pepper’s extra heat and physical ability to be better absorbed into your dish mean that you should only use half as much as in your dish. Though you can add more if you prefer spicier foods.
2) Chilli Paste
If you want a quick and easy way to spice up your dish and add some more unique, exciting flavours, chilli paste is the best alternative to chilli flakes.
There are a variety of chilli pastes on the market that you could use instead of chilli flakes, but the ones that are the closest in flavour are those that use mild chillies as their base.
Chilli paste is essentially just a thicker version of chilli flakes. Though chilli paste has a more complex taste than other spices.
Know When to Use Chilli Paste
Due to its consistency, chilli paste is better used in a meat marinade or in sauces. You can also water down the paste to make it easier to use in soups.
3) Chilli Powder
As its name would suggest, chilli powder seasoning uses a blend of spices and herbs alongside chilli, such as onion powder and cumin. However, the spicy heat typical of chilli is still the most prominent taste of most chilli powder seasonings.
You will have to check the ingredients of your chosen chilli powder seasoning to understand the type of dish it will work best in as there is no real standard for the ingredients that chilli seasonings use.
A blend with more neutral seasoning, such as black pepper or cayenne pepper, will be easier to use in a range of dishes without completely altering the taste of the dish.
So, Will Other Seasoning Mixes Work?
So long as the blend has a chilli powder as its base ingredient (such as cajun seasoning), it will provide the same spicy flavour as chilli flakes.
Other Substitutes for Chilli Flakes
There are so many types of chilli in the world and even more spice varieties that could be used to substitute chilli flakes instead.
If you happen to be stocked up on a different type of chilli powder than the ones listed above, here are a few more common varieties you can use to replace chilli flakes:
- Ground Paprika – One of the sweeter chilli powders, paprika is about the same heat intensity as chilli flakes but has more flavour overall that is better suited for sweeter dishes.
- Ground Habanero – Like its raw chilli pepper, ground habanero is not for the faint-hearted. It is one of the hottest peppers in the world, making ground habanero significantly hotter than chilli flakes though otherwise neutral in flavour.
Summary
It is always that kitchen staples that you end up running out of first. The next time you find yourself low on chilli flakes, any other neutral or mild chilli products will work perfectly as a substitute, from cayenne powder to chilli paste.