Want to make your Peruvian cuisine a hit? Aji Amarillo paste’s hot and spicy flavors will do the trick. But, if you are here, I assume you are out of it. Don’t worry; I can help you by providing a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste. Just read the information below.
Some Aji Amarillo paste substitutes are paprika, carrot powder, onion paste, habanero peppers, lime powder, and chipotle peppers.
Aji Amarillo means yellow chili powder. It is a bright orange color, contrary to its name. Aji Amarillo paste is made from freshly ground Aji Amarillo chilies, onions, garlic, and ginger.
Aji Amarillo has a fruity, berry-like flavor with a medium heat level. You can make many dishes, like sauces, stews, and salad dressings.
It has pain-relieving properties and antioxidants and offers health benefits, such as anti-coagulation, which helps prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart disease.
Now, let’s move to the crux of the article, the best Aji Amarillo Paste substitute.
20 Best Aji Amarillo Paste Substitutes
Here is a list of 20 best aji Amarillo paste substitutes to give your dishes the same flavor.
1. Turmeric Paste
If you are looking for an easy substitute for Aji Amarillo paste, Turmeric paste can work. Turmeric is used in Indian and Asian curries and as a seasoning.
Turmeric is a yellow root that gives an earthy, musky essence. To make a paste, just combine it with water. For Aji Amarillo, you can use it in sauces, stews, and salad dressings.
Turmeric is readily available in nearby grocery stores, and you can store it for six months in an airtight jar.
2. Sumac Paste
Sumac paste might already be in your pantry if you enjoy foods from the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Ash is a binding agent in sumac paste, available in powder form and made from dried sumac. Its flavor is sharp and tart with sweetness and floral notes.
Although it is not the same as Aji Amarillo, you can use it for marinades, curries, stews, or pita bread stuffing. You can use it in the same quantity as a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste.
3. Paprika
Paprika is a budget-friendly dried red pepper used in Indian, Pakistani, and South Asian food.
Paprika is red with an earthy, fruity, sweet, and peppery taste. You can use paprika in potato salad, pasta, and vegetables like carrots, parsnips, or beets. You can use paprika in the same ratio as a substitute for aji Amarillo.
4. Carrot Powder
You can use carrot powder as an alternative for Aji Amarillo paste. Carrot Powder is available in the form of a paste or powder.
It has a mild, sweet, and slightly peppery flavor incorporated into Asian or Latin American dishes. You can use carrot powder to make a cake, soup, juice, muffins, etc. You can use the same volume of carrot powder as Aji Amarillo paste.
5. Onion Paste
You can use onion paste as an excellent alternative for Aji Amarillo paste. Its robust, savory flavor is used to make pasta dishes, stews, and curries. You can also make pickles and chutneys from onion paste.
Use it in your dishes in a 1:1 substitution ratio.
6. Habanero Peppers
It is a fantastic choice for Aji Amarillo paste because it has a pleasant fruitiness and the right amount of heat. They exhibit sweet and floral flavors of apricot, pear, and apple.
It is primarily employed in Asian and Latin American cuisines to make spicy sauces, pickles, and chutneys. Use habanero peppers as a substitute for Aji Amarillo pastes in a 1:1 ratio.
Note: Remove the seeds from the habanero pepper before adding them to your recipe.
7. Lime Powder
You can use lime powder as an alternative to Aji Amarillo Paste. You need to add water to make it a paste consistency. Lime powder possesses a complex flavor, which is sour and citrusy with earthiness and smokiness.
You can use it in Asian and Latin American cuisines, and you can use it in soups, salads, or seafood dishes. You can add a fresh citrus flavor to dishes. Use it in an equal amount of lime powder as a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste.
8. Chipotle Peppers
You can use chipotle peppers as an alternative to Aji Amarillo paste because they have underlying sweetness with bitter and smoky notes. It is made with smoked jalapeno peppers with a distinct smoky flavor that resembles bacon or ham.
You can use it for roasted vegetables, tacos, enchiladas, Mexican-inspired soups, sauces, salsa, and marinades. You can incorporate chipotle peppers in the same amount as Aji Amarillo paste.
Note: It is very spicy; those who can’t handle spicy food should choose a different alternative.
9. Roasted Poblano Peppers
You can use roasted poblano peppers as an alternative to Aji Amarillo paste. It is a well-known, unripe, dark green chili pepper from Mexico.
They have a peppery, slightly smoky flavor and are mostly stuffed with cheese and served alongside other dishes such as fajitas or burgers.
It is perfect in salsa or southwestern food. When used in a 1:1 substitution ratio, it adds flavors to your food as a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste.
10. Dried or Frozen Aji Amarillo Chiles
If you have dried or frozen Aji Amarillo chilies in your pantry, use them as a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste.
It is a hot, spicily flavorful pepper with a distinct mango and raisin flavor. You can use it as a table dip because of its vivid yellow and orange color. Use it in your dishes in equal amounts of Aji Amarillo paste.
Note: Use it as it is, as these are so hard grinding or blending them into a paste is nearly impossible.
11. Scotch Bonnet Peppers
The scotch bonnet will be in your pantry if you prepare Jamaican or Caribbean food. Scotch Bonnet peppers have a sweet, fruity, tropical, and citrusy flavor with a 100,000 to 350,000 heat. You can use it in Caribbean or West Indian pepper sauces, dry rubs, marinades, salsas, soups, and curries.
Because of the similarity in flavors of Aji Amarillo paste and Scotch Bonnet peppers, you can use them in dishes with a substitution ratio of 1:1.
12. Serrano Pepper
Serrano peppers offer a similar flavor and can work as a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste. It originated in Mexico and is popular in Mexican cuisine. It adds a sharp, tangy flavor and fierce heat to your dishes.
It is a versatile pepper and can be roasted, pan-cooked, or fresh as a garnish. It is perfect in salsas, sauces, relishes, garnishes, hot sauce, and more. You can use it as an equal amount of Aji Amarillo paste.
13. Harissa
If you’re looking for a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste, consider using Harissa. This pepper is as versatile as Aji Amarillo and has a peppery and smoky flavor. It exhibits a strong garlic flavor that’s brightened up with a kick of citrus.
You can use it in meat or fish stew with vegetables and as a flavoring for couscous. It is perfect to use in lablabs, chickpea soup, and fricassee. To use it as a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste, you need to use it in the same amount as it.
14. Fresno Pepper
Fresno peppers are a good option due to their glossy, brightly colored peppers having a hot and sour taste. You can use it to make salsa, ceviche, and dips.
Fresno peppers are hotter than Aji Amarillo peppers, so you may want to use less of them in your recipe, which is ½ :1.
15. Criolla Sella
You can use Aji Amarillo Paste because of its resemblance in size and shape. It is a scorchingly hot Peruvian chile pepper with a sweet, fruity flavor reminiscent of berries, mangoes, and passion fruit.
Criolla Sella pepper gives dishes a slightly fruity flavor in stews and salads. It is most popular to use in ceviche.
Remove the seeds of Criolla Sella to lessen the heat since it is hotter than Aji Amarillo pastes. Compared to Aji Amarillo paste, use less of it.
16. Guntur Sannam
If you want to make Indian cuisine, then Guntur Sannam is a substitute for you. The chili pepper shares similarities with the Aji Camarillo chili pepper in appearance and is named after the Indian city of Guntur in the Andhra Pradesh region.
The deep-flavored, deep-red Guntur Sannam chili pepper has an initial fruitiness resembling cherries that mellows into a vegetal flavor with hints of tobacco and light smoke. It is best to use to make curries, soups, and stews. Use less of it than Aji Amarillo paste because it is more potent.
17. Jalapeno Pepper
It is one of the most popular peppers. It is an excellent option to use as an alternative to Aji Amarillo paste.
Jalapeno pepper has a medium level of heat with a slightly fruity flavor. It is a versatile pepper and can be used in various dishes like chicken, sauces, stews, salad dressings, and many more.
You can use it as a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste by starting with less and adding more to taste. If you can’t handle more heat, then you can remove the seeds of the pepper to reduce its heat level.
18. Cheongyang Pepper
If you are into Korean cuisine, you are familiar with Cheongyang Pepper. It has a similar flavor profile to Aji Amarillo peppers, and you can use it in various recipes that call for Aji Amarillo paste.
It has a sweet flavor, and its spiciness can range from mild to spicy. It is more potent than Aji Amarillo paste, and you can use it in soups, curries, chicken, etc.
It has more heat; if you’re not up for it, pick another option from the list.
19. Piquante Pepper
Due to its similar flavor profile, it can be used as an alternative to Aji Amarillo paste. It has a unique taste with a sweet, spicy, and pickled tang.
You can use it in pizza, sandwiches, wraps, and salads or incorporate it into snack plates, party trays, antipasti platters, and cheese or charcuterie boards. Piquant pepper is quite spicy, making it ideal for dishes. You can use it with the same amount of Aji Amarillo paste.
20. Manzano Pepper
If you don’t want to use anything from the above list, use Manzano pepper. Due to its similar flavor to Aji Amarillo, peppers make it an excellent substitute for Aji Amarillo paste.
It originates from Mexico and South America and is apple-shaped with a distinctively fruity, citrusy flavor.
Manzano pepper is perfect to use in hot sauces and salsa. It is necessary to use them sparingly so too much pepper cannot overpower a dish.
Short Recap Of Aji Amarillo Paste Substitutes
Here is a quick peek at Aji Amarillo Paste Substitutes. I categorized these into three categories so it becomes easy for you guys to find your desired alternative.
Best Aji Amarillo Paste Substitute In Terms Of Flavor and Texture–
- Habanero Peppers
- Dried or Frozen Aji Amarillo Chiles
- Scotch Bonnet Peppers
Best Aji Amarillo Paste Substitutes That Are Easily Available-
- Turmeric Paste
- Guntur Sannam
- Jalapeno Pepper
Aji Amarillo Paste Substitute Should Be Least Considered –
- Cheongyang Pepper
- Piquante Pepper
How To Use Aji Amarillo Paste Substitutes In A Recipe
20 Best Aji Amarillo Paste Substitutes You Can Try!
Ingredients
- Sumac paste
- Turmeric Paste
- Paprika
- Carrot Powder
- Onion Paste
- Habanero Peppers
- Lime Powder
- Chipotle Peppers
- Roasted Poblano Peppers
- Dried or Frozen Aji Amarillo Chiles
- Scotch Bonnet Peppers
- Serrano Pepper
- Harissa
- Fresno Pepper
- Criolla Sella
- Guntur Sannam
- Jalapeno Pepper
- Cheongyang Pepper
- Piquante Pepper
- Manzano Pepper
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and make the dish according to the recipe.
Final Thoughts
It is a long discussion, and now this article has come to an end of the article. I hope you discover your preferred substitute and use it in your dishes.
Finding a substitute for Aji Amarillo paste is difficult, but the options in this section function well and can match the flavor of your dish. Till then, we will meet at the next one.
Till Then! Happy Cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I use instead of Aji Amarillo paste?
You can use paprika, carrot powder, onion paste, habanero peppers, lime powder, and chipotle peppers instead of Aji Amarillo paste.
What pepper is closest to Aji Amarillo?
Habanero or Scotch Bonnet pepper is closest to Aji Amarillo.
Can I use Harissa instead of Aji Amarillo paste?
Yes, you can use Harissa instead of Aji Amarillo paste.
Can I use Turmeric instead of Aji Amarillo paste?
Yes, you can use Turmeric paste instead of Aji Amarillo paste.
Can I use lime powder instead of Aji Amarillo paste?
Yes, you can use lime powder instead of Aji Amarillo paste.
