Most South Asian recipes include bird’s eye chili, but it is not easy to find in the nearby store. Are you worried about what to add to the recipe instead of this?
Well, eliminate all your worries! This blog post is here to provide you with the best 15 bird’s eye chili substitutes. Let’s briefly learn about each of them!
Some of the best bird’s eye chili substitutes are serrano pepper, cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, scotch bonnet, jalapeno pepper, African bird’s eye chili, and Chile De Arbol.
Bird’s eye pepper is also known as Thai pepper and is popularly used in Vietnamese and Thai dishes. These might look small in size but have a potent taste with a heat level of 50,000 to 100,000 SHU. You can use it whole, diced, seeded, or powdered. You can incorporate it in the sauces and curries.
I have mentioned various substitutes for bird’s eye chili in this article. If you want to know about some milder options, don’t worry, we have also covered them! Let’s dive right in!
15 Best Bird’s Eye Chili Substitutes
Here is a list of the best bird’s eye chili substitutes you can try when you are out of this chili pepper.
1. Serrano Pepper
Want to add a little spice to your recipe? Serrano pepper is here to help you out! This bird’s eye substitute works well to add mild spiciness to your dishes. Its heat level ranges from 10,000 to 23000 Scoville heat units.
These chilies are popular in Mexican cuisine, but their crispy and mild flavor makes them suitable for every cuisine. Regarding its taste, this chili has sharp and biting flavors with undertones of sweetness.
You can easily incorporate this chili with salsas, marinades, sauces, or any other dishes that need bird’s eye chili. In addition to this, you can also use serrano pepper to make soups, chili con carne, and stews.
However, you won’t get a similar spice as bird’s eye chili. When it comes to the substitution ratio, you must start by adding a small amount and then gradually increasing it as per your taste.
2. Cayenne Pepper
Well, cayenne pepper provides half the heat level of bird’s eye chili. The heat level of this pepper ranges from 25000 to 50000 Scoville heat units. You can substitute bird’s eye chili with cayenne pepper in a 1:1 ratio.
This chili pepper is utilized in powdered form. Once it gets dried, it is ground into powder and then used in recipes. On the hotness scale, cayenne pepper ranges from mild to extremely spicy.
So, cayenne pepper is the best bird’s eye substitute when the dish calls for heat rather than adding extra flavor. You can elevate the flavors of dis just by adding a small amount of pepper.
It adds flavors to the dish without overpowering the resultant dish. You can easily use cayenne pepper in soups, stews, stir-fries, sauces, toppings, and marinades.
3. Habanero Pepper
Habanero pepper is another substitute for bird’s eye chili. This pepper is a lot spicier than the bird’s eye as its heat level ranges from 100,000 to 350,000 on the Scoville heat units. It adds the perfect smokey flavor and a nice fruity taste to the recipe.
People usually use habanero pepper to substitute bird’s eye chili to add intense flavors. Moreover, it is an ideal ingredient for giving a spicy kick to the recipes.
However, make sure you adjust the quantities of oil and other ingredients accordingly to adjust the heat level of the recipe. It can easily be found in nearby stores as well as online resources. Remember to soak dried habanero pepper in hot water a night before using it.
You can also toss the pepper in a dry skillet. This will also help to bring out the flavors of this alternative. Regarding the substitution ratio, you just need to adjust the additional heat.
In addition, you must add smaller amounts of habanero pepper compared to the bird’s eye chili.
4. Scotch Bonnet
You must have heard about Bonney pepper. This is the other name of the scotch bonnet pepper. If you don’t have habanero pepper, then you can use a scotch bonnet instead.
This pepper is known for adding spiciness even when adding a small amount, whether diced or powdered. This pepper is quite a staple in the Caribbean Islands.
People belonging to Jamaica love to add this one to enhance the spiciness. It is an ideal combo of adding spiciness and sweetness to the recipes. Thus, it is mostly incorporated in tropical-based sauces.
The heat level of the scotch bonnet measures 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville heat units. If you wonder about its spiciness, let me tell you that it is 40 times hotter than a regular jalapeno pepper.
These peppers are available in yellow and red color and can be used to relish spicy recipes. Start by adding a smaller amount and gradually increase the amount as per your need. Use a ½:1 ratio for substitution purposes.
5. Jalapeno Pepper
Well, another best and most accessible substitute for bird’s eye chili is the Jalapeno pepper. These chili peppers are commonly used in various recipes, including soups, stews, sauces, and other recipes.
Moreover, it is widely used as a topping in pizza and pasta. This dark and green jalapeno pepper is popularly used in Mexican recipes. When it comes to its heat, it ranges from 2500 to 8000 Scoville heat units.
Now you might get an idea that it is much less hotter than the bird’s eye chili. In addition, whenever you use it as a substitute, just double the number of jalapeno peppers used in a 2:1 ratio.
It does not only add flavors and spiciness to the recipes but also has nutritional value. It is rich in vitamins and provides various advantages to health.
So, if you want to add less heat, you can use jalapeno pepper as a substitute for bird’s eye chili. You can use it in daily cooking if you are a spice lover. Moreover, the spiciness is tolerable.
6. African Bird’s Eye Chili
African bird’s eye chili is popularly known as peri-peri or African devil chilis. These are native to Africa and are small in appearance. These are known for their distinct flavors and are extremely spicy. This chili is vibrant in color and has a unique taste.
You can incorporate various dishes such as hot sauces, stews, meat, soup, and fish curries. When it comes to its heat, it ranges from 50,000 to 175,000 Scoville heat units.
If you wonder about its spiciness, let me tell you that it is 20 times hotter than the spiciest jalapeno pepper. It also has a pleasant fruity taste. Use it in the same quantity as bird’s eye chili.
You can use it for treating flu and colds. You can use dry peri to replace chili powder in various dishes such as rice, stews, soups, chicken, and port.
7. Chile De Arbol
Chile de Arbol can be used as a substitute for bird’s eye chili. The heat of this chili ranges from 15000 to 30000 Scoville heat units.
You can use it in various forms, including fresh, dried, or as powder. It is available in red color and has nice smoky, nutty flavors and taste.
Chile de Arbol can be used in various dishes, including salsa, sauces, stews, soups, marinades, and other dishes. It adds a nice spicy flavor to the recipes.
The heat level of this chili is less than the bird’s eye chili; thus, feel free to use it in larger quantities than that of bird’s eye chili.
8. Fresno Chili Peppers
Fresno chili pepper can be used as a substitute for bird’s eye chili if you are looking for a milder flavor. You might even confuse it with jalapeno peppers, as they share similar flavors.
It is quite popular and known for its fruity, smokey, and nutty flavors. However, it is much spicier than the jalapenos and has high level ranges from 2500 to 10000 Scoville heat units.
It is perfect if you are looking for a milder option than the bird’s eye chili. You can easily use green Fresno chili pepper in soups, stews, sauces, dips, chutneys, and casserole dishes.
On the other hand, red Fresno chili pepper can be used as toppings in hotdogs, tacos, sausages, and burgers. You can use it in marinades, sauces, salads, and ceviche.
9. Pequin Chili Peppers
Pequin chili peppers are small in size, and you can replace bird’s eye chili peppers derived from south and southwestern parts of south and southwestern parts of the United States and Mexico.
It is one of the best replacements for the bird’s eye chili and has a nice amount of heat content. When it comes to heat content, it is much higher than other peppers.
It is suitable for adding a spicy kick to the recipes. You can use it in various dishes, including salsas, sauces, and marinades.
10. Tabasco Peppers
Do you like the spiciness of Tabasco sauce? It is prepared with the tabasco pepper and is known for its smoky flavors.
The spiciness of tabasco pepper is quite similar to that of cayenne pepper. Thus, it stands out as a good alternative for bird’s eye chili. You can use tabasco pepper in various dishes, such as stews, sauces, salsa, and soups.
This is available in various forms, including dried and powder. You can also convert this pepper into chili powder. All you need is to sprinkle it over the dishes, and you are good to go!
When it comes to its heat, it ranges from 35,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units. Besides its taste, tabasco pepper is a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Follow the standard ratio of 1:1 for substitution.
11. Chili Powder
Another bird’s eye chili substitute on the list is chili flakes or chili powder. This is a commonly used product in most households.
Everyone mostly has a pack of chili flakes present in the spice rack. If you want to add a little spicy swish to the dish, this works great for you.
In addition to this, you can also use both chili powder and chili flakes for extra spice. Compared to the bird’s eye chili, it has a bit of a mild flavor.
So you can be fried off the chili powder to get the best flavor. Use a 2:1 ratio for substituting the bird’s eye chili with chili powder. The heat level of chili flakes ranges from 500 to 1500 Scoville heat units.
12. Tien Tsin Chili
Tien Tsin is popularly known as Chinese red pepper or Tianjin peppers. You can use it as a substitute for bird’s eye chili as it has a heat level of 50,000 to 75,000 SHU.
You can use it in the standard 1:1 ratio for substituting bird’s eye chili. It is commonly used in Asian cooking and has a musty, hot taste and spicy aroma.
You can incorporate it in stir fry, soups, chicken curry, curd rice, lemon rice, and Szechuan shrimp. It is commonly used in Hunan or Szechuan styles of cooking. Ideally, these peppers are used to prepare infused oils and produce rich red-colored oil.
13. Chiltepin Pepper
Well, here is another substitute for bird’s eye chili. You will be surprised when you see the size of this chili. It is a small, round chili available in ¼ or ½ inches in length.
It is an apt substitute for Thai chili as they both share a similar heat level. You can easily find this chili from the nearby market.
When it comes to its flavors, it has smokey earth flavors and works as the best substitute in most recipes. You can use it in sauces and salsa.
In addition to this, you can also use it even in desserts. It is available in fresh and dried form. I suggest you start with a small quantity and then increase the quantity as per your taste.
14. Gochugaru
Gochugaru is the popular Korean chili powder or chili flakes. It is a staple in Korean cooking and can be used in various dishes, including cold salads, kimchi, soups, stews, and many more.
Korean Gochugaru has a vibrant red color with smokey flavors. It also has a fruity taste, making it a substitute for the bird’s eye chili.
Korean Gochugaru has a mild flavor and has a heat level of about 1500 Scoville heat units.
15. Siling Labuyo
People usually mistake Siling Labuyo chili as Thai bird’s eye chili. This is because smiling Labuyo is Filipino bird’s eye chili and shares an almost similar shape.
Although they are quite different and smiling, Labuyo is usually round and shorter in shape. Well, here is the surprising element, smiling Labuyo is much spicier than the bird’s eye chili.
The heat level ranges from 80,000 to 100,000 SHU, and because of this heat level, you might not be able to feel its flavors.
It has an earthy taste and can be used in spicy dishes, salads, and soups. You can also use it to make spicy vinegar.
Short Recap Of The Best Bird’s Eye Chili Substitutes
Well, this was the whole parade of the various substitutes for bird’s eye chili. Some give an exact level of spiciness, and some have mild flavors. Here is a quick recap section to get an idea about substitutes on various parameters. Let’s move ahead!
Best Bird’s Eye Chili Substitute In Terms Of Same Heat Level-
- Siling Labuyo
- Tien Tsin
- African Bird’s Eye Chili
Best Bird’s Eye Chili Substitute In Terms Of Same Available-
- Chiltepin Pepper
- Tabasco Sauce
- Chili Powder
How To Use Bird’s Eye Chili Substitutes In A Recipe
15 Best Bird’s Eye Chili Substitutes You Can Try!
Ingredients
- Serrano Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
- Habanero Pepper
- Scotch Bonnet
- Jalapeno Pepper
- African Bird’s Eye Chili
- Chile De Arbol
- Fresno Chili Peppers
- Pequin Chili Peppers
- Tabasco Peppers
- Chili Powder
- Tien Tsin Chili
- Chiltepin Pepper
- Gochugaru
- Siling Labuyo
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 proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Conclusion
Now, we have reached the end of the article. It is not easy to find bird’s eye chili in the market. But there are various options available that you can use as a substitution.
Tabasco pepper, chili powder, and gochugaru are the mild flavors you can opt for. I hope you get your desired alternative for Thai chili.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best bird’s eye chili substitutes?
Some of the best bird’s eye chili substitutes are serrano pepper, cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, scotch bonnet, jalapeno pepper, African bird’s eye chili, Chile De Arbol, Fresno chili pepper, Pequin chili pepper, tabasco sauce, chili powder, and Gochugaru.
What are the best bird’s eye chili substitutes in terms of availability?
Chiltepin, tabasco, and chili powder are the best bird’s eye chili substitutes in terms of availability.
Can we use chili flakes as a bird’s eye chili substitute?
Yes, you can use chili flakes as a bird’s eye chili substitute. Use a 2:1 ratio for substituting the bird’s eye chili with chili powder. The heat level of chili flakes ranges from 500 to 1500 Scoville heat units.
Is cayenne pepper the same as bird’s eye chili?
No, cayenne pepper is the same as bird’s eye chili. Cayenne pepper has 30,000 to 50,000 SHU, whereas Bird’s eye chili has a heat level of 50,000 to 100,000 SHU.
