Replacement for Scotch Bonnet Chili Pepper

Scotch bonnet, sometimes known as Bonney peppers, is a kind of chili pepper claimed to have originated in Brazil. If you’re looking for a Scotch bonnet replacement, there are many options.

What Are Scotch Bonnets?

The Scotch Bonnet Chili Pepper is a spicy pepper and chili pepper kind that is extensively used in West African and Caribbean cuisine.

It’s a hot pepper with a peculiar sweetness that contributes to the distinct taste of meals like jerk pork. On the Scoville scale, it has a SHU value of 100,000-350,000.

These compact and stout-looking peppers range in hue from green to yellow, and sometimes a deep red. They may become orange and sometimes brown when ripe.

Substitutes for Scotch Bonnet Peppers:

1. Habanero Pepper

Scotch bonnets are sometimes confused for Habanero peppers. They are not, however, the same. Yet, in most recipes, this pepper is the greatest alternative for the Habanero.

Although they are often mistaken visually, there are some distinctions. The main difference is that habaneros aren’t as sweet as scotch bonnets. As a result, they may not always produce the same flavor in meals where sweetness is more important.

Yet, they both range from 100,000 to 350,000 SHU on the Scoville scale, indicating the same intensity of heat.

2. Jalapeño Pepper

Jalapeos are a well-known chili pepper with a moderate to intense spiciness and a little sweetness. Their sweetness works well as a substitution for scotch bonnets in many recipes.

Remember that if you want to add some heat to the meal, blend these peppers with some cayenne pepper powder. Otherwise, the sweetness may be too strong, and the spice may be too light.

If you can get red jalapeo peppers, they are a better replacement for scotch bonnet peppers than the green kind.

3. Serrano Pepper

Serrano chili peppers are somewhat hotter than jalapeos. Nonetheless, they are not near as spicy as a scotch bonnet. Serrano peppers have a SHU level of 10,000-25,000, but scotch bonnet peppers have a SHU rating of 100,000-350,000.

Although not as sweet, these peppers have a fresh and green taste that makes them great for salsas and sauces.

Related: What Is the Best Serrano Pepper Substitute?

Because of their unique taste and the heat they provide to foods when combined with other hotter chilis, they make an ideal substitute for scotch bonnet peppers in many recipes, such as curries and salsas.

4. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne peppers are virtually renowned in Southern cuisine and have West African origins. The scotch bonnet chili pepper is very popular in West African cooking. Unsurprisingly, they are good alternatives for one another.

Cayenne pepper is not as hot as scotch bonnet, with a SHU level ranging from 30,000 to 50,000. Yet, in terms of many chili peppers, it is still rather spicy. Use twice the number of cayenne peppers to replace the scotch bonnet peppers and taste as you go.

Another advantage of cayenne pepper is that most of us have some on hand in powdered form, which works just as well as fresh peppers.

The powdered, more concentrated version of cayenne pepper is considerably hotter and spicier than the fresh alternatives, so start with about a teaspoon and add more as required.

The slight sweetness of the cayenne pepper makes it popular in many Southern cuisines. If you want to put a Southern-inspired twist on a dish, add extra brown or muscovado sugar to make it sweeter.

5. Rocotillo Pepper

This lesser-known pepper is more widely accessible in regions of the Caribbean, particularly at specialty grocery shops catering to Caribbean tastes.

Although the Rocotillo pepper is a moderate pepper with a Scoville rating of just 1,500-2,000, it has one of the most comparable fruity flavours, which means it can be combined with something hot, such as the Habanero, to excellent effect.

The biggest disadvantage of using this pepper as a replacement is that it is not commonly accessible. If coupled with hotter chili peppers, it would be towards the top of the list.

6. Guajillo Pepper

Guajillo peppers are widely used in Mexican cooking. They have a particular sweetness that makes them an interesting and appropriate substitute for scotch bonnet chilis. Although often used as a basis ingredient for sauces and salsas, these peppers may also be utilized in classic jerk recipes to provide sweetness with the fire.

Guajillo peppers are moderate chili peppers with a SHU value of 2,500-5,000, similar to a mild jalapeo. But you can always combine them with a teaspoon of red cayenne pepper powder to amp up the heat.

They have a waxy skin that might impact the texture of the dish, which is one disadvantage of using guajillo.

Alternatives for Guajillo Peppers

If you can get them, these peppers make a great, flavorful substitute for scotch bonnets in any dish when mixed with the spicer chili alternatives on this list.

Conclusion

You may use one of these substitutes for Scotch bonnet in a variety of recipes and meals. From sweetly sweet to hot and spicy, one of these selections should provide you with everything you need to make your next amazing recipe work!