Did you know that chili peppers aren’t necessarily hot? They may have a more neutral flavor, such as piquillo peppers.

The piquillo pepper is a juicy and flavorful chili pepper that is far less fiery than other chili peppers. It is commonly roasted, stored in jars, and served as a side dish. It may lend a smokey, sour undertone to a number of foods while also adding a bit of spiciness.

If you don’t have piquillos on hand and your recipe calls for them, we have a few suggestions. We also offer a simple method for producing your own smoked piquillos.

What Is Piquillo Pepper?

Piquillo is a red chili pepper with a mild flavor that is mostly grown in Navarre, Spain.

The name comes from the Spanish term little beak, and for good reason: the pepper has a triangular form with a tiny tip at the end that looks like a bird beak.

Piquillo pepper has a little heat but a lot of juice and sweetness. The Scoville Heat Index of the piquillo pepper varies from 500 to 1000. When compared to the popular jalapeño, which has a Scoville rating of 2,500 to 8,000, the piquillo is nearly a sweet pepper.

The taste of piquillo peppers is acidic with smoky undertones. They have thick skin, similar to bell peppers, and when eaten raw, they have a delightful crunch.

They’re the perfect size for stuffing with meat and veggies, but they may also be stir-fried, pickled, roasted, or turned into creamy soups and decadent sauces.

Substitutes For Piquillo Pepper

1. Jarred red pepper varieties
2. Red bell peppers
3. Long sweet peppers
4. Orange bell peppers
5. Green bell peppers
6. Banana peppers
7. Yellow bell peppers
8. Mini sweet peppers

Jarred Red Pepper Varieties

Is your local grocery out of pickled piquillos? They may also sell other roasted red pepper kinds, such as jarred bell peppers.

These pepper varietals, such as piquillo, are fire-roasted, giving them a lovely smoky taste. Look for them in the canned and jarred vegetable departments at your local supermarket.

Red Bell Peppers

The red bell pepper, often known as the King of the Grill, is one of the most delicious peppers. They taste sweet and delicious, comparable to piquillos. Their texture is solid and packed with juice, crunch, and meat.

Because of their sweet taste, they are appropriate for a variety of meals; they go nicely in a pasta salad or filled with meat and vegetables. They, like piquillos, may acquire a wonderful charred flavor when grilled, making them excellent for summer barbeques.

Long Sweet Peppers

Long sweet peppers are a flexible and delicious substitute for piquillo peppers.

They’re the same length as piquillos but much skinnier. They may be somewhat sweeter in taste, so if piquillo peppers are too hot for you, this option should be on your buying list.

Because their flesh is not as thick as piquillos’, they cook quicker than the other options on our list.

Long sweet peppers are available in red, orange, and yellow kinds, so use them in stir fries to add color, crunch, and sweetness.

Green Bell Peppers

The green bell pepper is a popular kind of pepper that many people purchase at the grocery store. This popular bell pepper cultivar is sweet and juicy enough to substitute for piquillo peppers in recipes.

Green bell peppers lack the natural sugars that other peppers get during the ripening process, giving them a more bitter and earthy taste. So, if you want peppers with a tangy bite that aren’t as sweet as piquillos, this is the pepper for you.

Whether raw or cooked, they offer a pleasant, crisp feel. In terms of cookery, green bell peppers pair nicely with tomato-based dishes such as sauces and soups.

Yellow Bell Peppers

Yellow bell peppers are popular due to their sweet taste, juice, and beautiful color. We picked them because they are a great substitute for piquillo peppers.

Their thick, meaty skin is similar to that of the red piquillo pepper. They’re terrific for roasting or grilling, and their size makes them a perfect replacement for filled piquillo peppers.

They, like other bell peppers, provide color and flavor to pasta and casserole dishes. Their sweet flavor compliments tasty nachos and works nicely with sweet potatoes.

Orange Bell Peppers

Orange bell peppers are flavorful, acidic, and sweet. They have the same hard, crunchy, and juicy texture of piquillos.

Orange bell peppers have a fruitier taste than the other bell pepper kinds. They are also sweeter than green bell peppers.

They are excellent for adding flavor and color to salads, sauces, and dips. They’re also the perfect size for stuffing with veggies, cheese, or meat.

Banana Peppers

Our next option is called because its bright yellow color and long, banana-like shape. This pepper is also known as a banana chili or a yellow wax pepper.

Banana peppers are a near-perfect replacement for piquillo chile. Their taste is gentler, sweeter, and somewhat peppery.

However, because to their lack of heat, they are not considered hot peppers. A banana pepper has a Scoville value of 500, making it five times less fiery than a jalapeño.

Simply said, they are an excellent alternative for folks who want to spice up their cuisine without going crazy.

They are often eaten with meat and cheese inside or as a topping on pizza, sandwiches, and Greek salads.

Mini Sweet Peppers

In terms of flavor, these little peppers carry a powerful punch. They are significantly smaller than piquillo peppers, yet their sweet flavor is as vibrant as their colors.

Mini sweet peppers come in red, orange, and yellow variants and may add a splash of color to your cuisine. They are crisp but not as juicy or meaty as piquillo peppers, making them unsuitable for roasting or stuffing.

Despite this, their tiny size makes them a tasty addition to salads, pizzas, spaghetti, and stir-fries. Wrap them in prosciutto and serve as an appetizer or side dish with mashed potatoes or cornbread.

Homemade Piquillo Roasted Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 piquillo peppers;
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar;
• Salt and pepper;
• cup sunflower oil;
• 4 cloves of minced garlic;

Cooking time: 1 hour and 15 minutes;

Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet with tinfoil to begin creating your own roasted piquillo peppers.

Turn the piquillos every now and then until they are roasted and slightly browned on both sides. This procedure might take up to 25 minutes.

Cover the peppers with plastic after putting them in a bowl. Steam the peppers for 15 minutes to loosen the skins and make them simpler to remove.

When the peppers are cool enough to handle, use a small knife to remove the stems, seeds, and skin.

Although the peppers may be chopped into strips, bigger quantities are more frequent. Place them on a serving platter after washing them.

Finish with a drizzle of sunflower oil and a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper.

Toss the roasted piquillo peppers in the dressing to cover well. Serve and enjoy after 30 minutes of room temperature marinating.

Conclusion

The next time you find yourself in a piquillo pepper jam, you’ll be aware of the several substitutes that may readily replace its sweetness and juiciness.

Overall, red bell peppers are the closest in taste, followed by long sweet peppers, orange and yellow bell peppers, and green bell peppers.

If you don’t want a fresh option or don’t have time to roast peppers at home, any of the sweet pepper canned kinds we propose should suffice. You may choose if you want anything sweeter or spicier in a jar.