Adding that quick punch of spice and fruity greatness is what scotch bonnet peppers are known for. Chopping and throwing some into your homemade Asian sauces and tasty pork chop sauces are a few of many ways to use these peppers. But what if you’re out of them? Well, I’ve got some of the best substitutes for scotch bonnet peppers.
You can substitute scotch bonnet peppers for cayenne peppers, Thai red chili peppers, serrano peppers, and tabasco peppers. But this isn’t all, so let’s cover all the best scotch bonnet pepper swaps!
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🤷 What Is a Scotch Bonnet Pepper?
The scotch bonnet pepper is a chili pepper with a fruity and fiery flavor. It’s commonly used in Caribbean cuisine and has a small, round shape and a unique bonnet-like appearance, hence its name. Its heat level ranges from 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville units, making it one of the hottest peppers in the world.
📌 Scotch Bonnet Pepper Uses in Dishes
Jerk Chicken: A Jamaican classic, jerk chicken features chicken marinated in a spicy blend of Scotch Bonnet peppers, spices, herbs, and sometimes a touch of citrus juice, before being grilled or roasted to perfection.
Escovitch Fish: This Caribbean dish consists of fried fish topped with a spicy sauce made from Scotch Bonnet peppers, vinegar, onions, carrots, and bell peppers, creating a flavorful and tangy accompaniment to the crispy fish.
Goat Curry: A popular dish in Caribbean cuisine, goat curry features tender goat meat simmered in a rich and aromatic sauce flavored with Scotch Bonnet peppers, curry spices, tomatoes, onions, and garlic.
Callaloo: A traditional Caribbean dish similar to spinach or collard greens, callaloo is made from leafy greens (often taro or amaranth leaves) cooked with coconut milk, onions, garlic, and Scotch Bonnet peppers for a spicy and creamy side dish.
Rasta Pasta: A fusion dish inspired by Jamaican and Italian cuisines, rasta pasta combines pasta with a creamy sauce made from coconut milk, bell peppers, onions, garlic, and Scotch Bonnet peppers, creating a spicy and flavorful pasta dish.
Hot Pepper Sauce: Hot pepper sauce is a popular condiment in Caribbean households made by blending Scotch Bonnet peppers with vinegar, garlic, onions, and spices. This gives it a fiery sauce that adds heat and flavor to a variety of dishes.
💡 Best Scotch Bonnet Pepper Substitute
Jalapeño Peppers
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 2 teaspoons of chopped jalapeno pepper
Jalapeño peppers are an amazing ingredient with a considerably milder heat and a delicious, slightly sweet, and tangy taste. These are one of the more popular peppers that can be found in most grocery stores and markets. The milder taste does mean you’ll have to use more if you want a similar spice but will be perfect for those milder recipes.
Habanero Peppers
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 1 teaspoon of chopped habanero pepper
Habanero peppers are the swap to use for scotch bonnet peppers. They’re practically the same thing, with a top-notch option flavor and very similar heat level. These peppers pack a fruity flavor and intense heat with a tasty, smoky flavor. They do have slight differences in appearance and the added sweeter taste with scotch bonnet peppers, but these are minute to the recipe and heat potential it has when substituted.
Thai Red Chili Peppers
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 1 teaspoon of chopped Thai red chili peppers
The vast array of flavors and heat levels from Thai red chili peppers are why these can be perfect for swapping with scotch bonnet peppers. From Thai Prik Chee Fah to Thai Prik Kee Noo Suan, there’s a type for your taste buds. One with fantastic heat and flavor is Thai bird’s eye chili peppers. They have a more fruity and sweeter side with a heat level just shy of habanero peppers. If you can’t find these peppers, you can try using some bird’s eye chili substitutes instead.
Cayenne Peppers
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 1 teaspoon of chopped cayenne pepper
Cayenne peppers are the fiery peppers to use when substituting for Scotch bonnet peppers. Being in the same Capsicum family means they have a comparable heat level. They also have a slight sweetness with a subtle smokiness that’s just right for Scotch bonnet recipes. Whatever its form, you can use the same ratio as you would in the recipe. If you have trouble finding this pepper or want a more mild heat with the same flavor, you can use cayenne pepper alternatives instead.
Serrano Peppers
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 2 teaspoons of chopped serrano pepper
These pretty green peppers pack a surprisingly tasty flavor, though they do lack the heat. These peppers have all the flavor but with a milder heat as they range between 10,000 and 23,000 Scoville Heat Units. They do have a bright and fresh taste and a hint of sweetness that’s still perfect for those scotch bonnet pepper recipes. Just use double the amount if you want to pack the heat in you dish.
Tabasco Peppers
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 2 teaspoons of chopped tabasco pepper
Small, delicious, and spicy. These little treats can prove to be a great alternative to scotch bonnet pepper with half the heat but all the flavor. The more acidic and vinegary taste these peppers have can prove to be a fantastic twist in your recipes. If you want a more comparable heat, use double the amount when swapping for 1 scotch bonnet pepper.
Pequin Peppers
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 1 teaspoon of chopped pequin pepper
Pequin peppers are rightly named so. These amazing little peppers are filled to the seams with a delicious smoky and spicy flavor. The small size and spicy taste mean they’ll be perfect for tossing into your spicy chicken sauce recipes and homemade sauces. The similar fruity goodness and burst of smoke and tang will be perfect for you.
Fresno Pepper
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 1 teaspoon of chopped fresno pepper
Fresno peppers are some of the mildest peppers on the list, packing just around 2,500–10,000 Scoville heat units. They pack a slightly sweet and smoky flavor that can be great in scotch bonnet pepper recipes, though they do lack the heat that makes these recipes great. You can easily fix this by adding more into the dish, balancing out the heat loss without losing flavor.
Peri-Peri Sauce
1 teaspoon of chopped scotch bonnet pepper = 2 teaspoons of peri-peri sauce
Taking a step back from whole peppers is the first sauce entry that really is a great substitute for scotch bonnet peppers. A dollop of Peri-peri sauce has all the tangy and slight sweetness you want, plus the mild or spicy kick you need. Different versions have different heat and different flavors, so you’ll never have trouble picking one. Even Nando’s sauces have a fantastic selection of the best peri-peri sauces.
🧐 FAQs
Yes, habanero and Scotch Bonnet peppers are essentially the same, both belonging to the Capsicum chinense species. They have similar heat levels and fruity flavors, with slight variations in appearance and taste.
The habanero pepper is similar to Scotch Bonnet in terms of heat level and fruity flavor, often considered interchangeable in recipes.
You can typically find Scotch bonnet peppers at specialty grocery stores, farmers’ markets, or online retailers that specialize in exotic or Caribbean ingredients.