Kashmiri Chili Powder Substitute

Kashmiri chili powder is a popular ground spices in Indian cuisine that flavors and adds color to everything from curry to kabobs. If you are out of the brightly-colored seasoning, save yourself a trip to the store. Find the BEST Kashmiri chili powder substitute from this list of suggestions.

What is Kashmiri Chili Powder?

How to Use Kashmiri Chili Powder?

Unlike some chili powders, Kashmiri chili powder adds a distinctly red hue to chutneys, curries, and grilled meat without increasing the spice level of a dish.

Kashmiri chiles are mild compared to jalapeño or cayenne peppers, meaning you can include ground Kashmiri peppers without overpowering the other ingredients. Kashmiri chili powder has a warm, smoky flavor that complements other Indian spices like garam masala, turmeric powder, cumin, and coriander to flavor home-cooked meals.

You can also use the spice blend to provide red color to recipes like pasta sauce, stew, and lasagna.

What’s The Best Kashmiri Chili Powder Substitute?

Kashmiri chili powder is a popular ingredient in Pakistani and Indian cuisine for its mild taste and vibrant red color. If you don’t have Kashmiri chili powder, leave it out since it’s usually used for color anyway. Either way, here are a few substitutes you can use:

Kashmiri Chili Powder Substitutes

1. Paprika

Paprika is the best substitute for Kashmiri chili powder when I run out and don’t have it in my pantry.

There are many different types of paprika, so what you use depends on what you are making. If all you want is to add color, use sweet paprika. The ground spice has a brighter red color than other varieties, and it’s an excellent natural food coloring for meals like rindsgulasch without altering the flavor.

Smoked paprika producers use sweet and spicy red peppers to prepare the ground spice. Use it to infuse meals with a warm, smoky flavor. Smoked paprika is an excellent substitute for Kashmiri chili powder in marinades and spice rubs. Add it to meals like baked tandoori turkey for a smoky flavor and deep red color without using a tandoor to make it.

Unlike Indian red chili powder, Kashmiri chili powder adds vibrant color and flavor without increasing the heat. Use hot paprika with dried cayenne or jalapeño peppers to add a fiery kick to meals, depending on where producers source them. 

2. Red Chili Powder 

I want to clarify something that threw me for a loop when I first started cooking Pakistani food. Red chili powder differs from the darker chili powder sold in the United States for Tex-Mex recipes like chili con carne, brisket, and beef ribs.

Red chili powder has a spicier, more intense flavor than Kashmiri chili powder, similar to cayenne powder. It is a suitable substitute for recipes like curry and achar, especially if you don’t mind the extra heat. The darker color is not as bright as Kashmiri chili powder, but it will do the trick.

3. Deggi Mirch

This suggestion is a bit of a cheat because the spice blend technically contains dried Kashmiri peppers and red capsicum (also called red bell peppers) for a subtle heat and earthy flavor. You can see why deggi mirch is a good Kashmiri chili powder substitute. Use it to increase flavor and enhance the look of a dish.

4. Byadgi Chili Powder

Byadgi chili powder is an Indian spice made from dried Byadgi chiles known for their deep red color and mild flavor. Byadgi chili powder is commonly used for South Indian recipes to season everything from sambar and rasam to pickles and chutneys.

5. Gochugaru

Korean red pepper powder or gochugaru is a staple in Korean cuisine to flavor tteokbokki, kimchi jjigae, and dipping sauces like gochujang aioli or kimchi aioli. The ground spice is made from deseeded red chili peppers with various heat levels, depending on the grade of chiles used. If you need a good substitute for Kashmiri chili powder, choose a mild version of gochugaru unless you prefer a spicier option.

6. Aleppo Pepper

Aleppo pepper is a popular spice used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. It gets its name from Aleppo, a city in Syria known for its rich culinary history. Aleppo pepper has a slightly sweet flavor that ranges from mild to spicy. Like gochugaru, I recommend using mild Aleppo pepper as a substitute for Kashmiri chili powder. While it has a similar flavor to dried Kashmiri peppers, it doesn’t add color to meals in the same way.

Other Kashmiri Chili Powder Substitutes:

These options don’t make the cut for being the BEST Kashmiri chili powder substitute, but they are suitable when you are in a pinch.

• Ancho Chili Powder
• Cayenne Pepper
• Powdered Food Coloring

How to Use Kashmiri Chili Powder

1. Curry Dishes

Chefs and home cooks incorporate Kashmiri mirch powder into salan and gravy (called curry here in the States) to add a bright red color. The ground spice also balances the flavor of other spices, such as cumin, turmeric, and coriander, for a more full-bodied flavor.

Best Substitute: Aleppo Pepper, Byadgi Chili Powder, Deggi Mirch, Paprika, Red Chili Powder

2. Marinades

Combine Kashmiri chili powder with other flavorful spices, plain yogurt, fresh garlic, ginger, and lemon juice to create a delicious marinade for vegetables, paneer, poultry, beef, lamb, and goat. The ground Kashmiri peppers impart a vibrant red color to enhance the look of popular meals, such as Kashmiri chicken, chicken 65, and chicken rara, known for their signature red color.

Best Substitutes: Byadgi Chili Powder, Deggi Mirch, Paprika, Red Food Coloring

3. Tandoori Dishes

Authentic tandoori recipes usually start with a flavorful marinade made with yogurt, aromatics, and spices like Kashmiri chili powder to give the tandoori dish its brilliant red color.

Best Substitutes: Byadgi Chili Powder, Deggi Mirch, Red Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika

4. Rice Dishes

Biryani and pulao are delicious rice dishes introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Mughals via trade routes. Both meals combine long-grained basmati rice, meat (such as chicken, beef, goat, lamb, or fish), vegetables, and an array of aromatics and spices, including Kashmiri chili powder. The ground spice is often stirred into marinades or sprinkled over the rice as it steams for additional color.  

Best Substitutes: Aleppo Pepper, Byadgi Chili Powder, Deggi Mirch, Gochugaru, Red Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika

5. Pickles and Chutneys

Combine Kashmiri chili powder with popular South Asian ingredients like tamarind paste and coconut cream to flavor homemade achar and chutney that you can serve with pani puri and other meals.

Best Substitutes: Byadgi Chili Powder, Deggi Mirch, Paprika, Red Chili Powder

Storage

Store spices, like Kashmiri chili powder, in an airtight container or glass jar in a cool, dry place. Spices lose their freshness over time, so it’s best to use them within six months for best results.

Frequently Asked Questions

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