Even though it is popular and relatively easy to find, there might be times when you want a substitute for Fresno pepper. And given how important it is to several recipes, the substitute solution can’t simply be to use a different chili and manage the heat with quantity.
Fresno pepper isn’t just for heat in a recipe, it often also provides texture, flavor, and color to a recipe. The sweet, fruity flavor notes are as important as the spicy heat that Fresno chili peppers bring to the table. Their texture is also a reason why they’re a favorite for pickling.
Yes, this pepper works beyond just adding heat to a recipe. That’s a big reason why a good substitute for fresno chili should also account for its use and role in the recipe. The consideration for texture is where substituting for Fresno pepper differs from conventional substitution for red chili peppers, where the primary consideration is heat and color.
Conventionally, the top Fresno pepper substitutes are jalapeno peppers, chipotle pepper, serrano peppers, anaheim peppers, red bell pepper, and cayenne pepper.
Let’s get to the details.
Table of Contents
Best Substitute For Fresno Pepper – Detailed And Discussed
1. Jalapeno Pepper
Jalapeno pepper is usually the best choice of substitute for Fresno Pepper. They have a similarity in overall flavors, which allows for an easier substitution. They can also have some similarity in appearance, so whether your recipe uses green fresno peppers, or the far more common red fresno peppers, chances are, jalapeno peppers will be the right fit.
Of course, they won’t bring the same bright red color to the food like Fresno peppers do, but jalapeno peppers work just fine. They’re also good if you want to make a recipe that involves stuffing the peppers. However, jalapeno peppers are a bit meatier than Fresno peppers, so expect a little change in texture.
If the color and appearance is important, it’s okay to use red jalapeno peppers, which would be a closer approximation to the color of Fresno peppers. Though red jalapeno peppers are a bit more difficult to source, the substitution should work if they’re available.
In terms of heat, the peppers are quite similar, though technically, jalapeno peppers aren’t said to be as hot as Fresno peppers.
On the Scoville Scale, Fresno peppers are in the range of 2500-10000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units) while jalapeno peppers are in the range of 2500-8000 SHU.
2. Chipotle Pepper
Once you see jalapeno peppers as an acceptable substitute for Fresno pepper, it’s only natural that Chipotle Peppers should follow the same line. To put it succinctly, chipotle peppers are ripe red jalapenos, dried and smoked.
And yes, although they do come from jalapenos, they are distinct in the culinary sense and a well-known pepper in their own right. Apart from the general flavor similarities with Fresno pepper thanks to their origin, this chili pepper is smoked, so it covers another dimension of flavors as well.
Overall, the Chipotle chili pepper can go into several recipes that call for the Fresno pepper. In fact, as a more popular ingredient, Chipotle pepper is often a preferable ingredient in several recipes that call for the Fresno pepper (the exception being sauces and pickles).
Chipotle pepper is slightly less spicy than Fresno pepper, with the SHU range of 2500-8000. Although for most recipes, this doesn’t make much of a difference.
3. Serrano Pepper
The famous serrano peppers could take the place of Fresno peppers in several recipes. They’re a good way to bring heat to a recipe, and they can also be chopped and enjoyed directly in several foods. The texture and flavor is good enough to allow for that.
However, there is a caveat. Serrano peppers are remarkably hot and can be significantly hotter than the regular Fresno pepper. As we know, the Fresno pepper lies in the range of 2500-10000 SHU. But the serrano pepper goes to an entire different level with a range of 10,000-23000 SHU.
So, you will have to reduce the quantity a bit when using serrano chili to replace Fresno chili. Additional aspects can also be considered to reduce the spiciness of serrano peppers, like removing the seeds before using this pepper in a recipe.
4. Anaheim Pepper
Anaheim chili is a milder substitute for the Fresno chili. In a substitution situation, this works quite similar to serrano pepper, without needing adjustments for any extra heat. Usually, anaheim pepper is green, with a medium heat and a hint of sweetness. The texture is pretty good and can work with most recipes that utilize raw Fresno pepper.
This substitution can be particularly useful for anyone who wants to enjoy a recipe with Fresno pepper, but would prefer less heat and spiciness.
Anaheim peppers come at 500 to 2500 units on the Scoville scale, making them notably milder than Fresno pepper.
5. Red Bell Pepper
Want some flavors of chili without the heat? Well, the red bell pepper is the right choice and a plausible substitute for Fresno pepper in recipes where you want to maintain the color and somewhat similar texture, but don’t want the heat.
Substituting the red bell pepper for Fresno pepper works quite well in several recipes where the flavor of capsaicin is welcome, but the associated heat is not. Plus, since it has the same red color, using this as a substitution choice works rather well for the overall visuals of the recipe.
If you should want some extra heat or spiciness, you could consider adding a bit of black pepper. A few red pepper flakes should also work..
One thing to remember for this substitution is that red bell peppers are much meatier than Fresno pepper. It would be desirable to use thinly cut red bell pepper, so as not to significantly alter the texture of the recipe or have the texture of the red bell pepper overwhelm the overall texture of a recipe.
6. Cayenne Pepper
The fiery red cayenne pepper looks like the right choice to substitute for Fresno pepper when you want some additional heat and zing for your recipe. Well, truth be told, this is a doable but dubious substitution. It can work when color and heat are more important to your recipe, but the substitution doesn’t work if you want the deeper flavors or texture that come with Fresno pepper.
Cayenne peppers are longer, thinner, and much spicier than Fresno peppers. This pepper easily goes from 30,000-50,000 SHU on the Scoville scale, making it much hotter than Fresno pepper.
7. Chili Powder, Flakes, Or Sauces
When you want a red color and heat as the primary solution for your substitution needs, commercial or homemade options like chili powder, flakes, or sauces can work for you. These won’t be the answer to the texture needs, but can adequately help a recipe that needs heat.
Sauces especially can be pretty good at managing flavors or bringing in new ones. Just be mindful of the one you purchase, since the heat can vary by product and brand. And you would want something in the milder category to be an adequate substitute for Fresno pepper.
Substituting For Fresno Pepper – Your Top Choice
At this point in the discussion, it’s possible to say that jalapeno peppers, or chipotle peppers make for the best substitutes for Fresno pepper. This is especially true when you want a substitute that’s closer to the original in flavor and style.
However, there are several other options to explore, and the well-known serrano pepper and anaheim pepper appear to be good options. Depending on the recipe, other options could work too, especially where spiciness and other flavors are concerned.