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All About Aleppo Pepper | Know Your Spice Aleppo Pepper or Halaby Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

All About Aleppo Pepper | Know Your Spice Aleppo Pepper or Halaby Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

All About Aleppo Pepper | Know Your Spice Aleppo Pepper or Halaby Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

All About Aleppo Pepper | Know Your Spice Halaby Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Aleppo Pepper is also known as Halaby Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

All About Aleppo Pepper | Know Your Spice Aleppo pepper or Halaby pepper (Capsicum annuum)

The Aleppo pepper is a variety of Capsicum annuum used as a spice, particularly in Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisine. It is also known as the Halaby pepper.

It is a robust, brick-red pepper grown in the around the city of Aleppo (Halab in Arabic & hence the name) in northwestern Syria, just south of the Turkish border.

This red spice information card below gives you a snapshot of Aleppo Pepper spice you’ll read about. Do share this spice card with your friends & spread the knowledge.

What exactly is a Aleppo Pepper?

Some alternate names of Aleppo Pepper are Halaby Pepper, Near Eastern Pepper, Halab Pepper, Pul Biber (Turkey) & Haleb biber (Armenia).

Spice card – aleppo pepper, halaby pepper, pul biber, haleb biber

The Aleppo pepper is a variety of Capsicum annuum used as a spice, particularly in Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisine.

It is also known as the Halaby pepper.

Although a common condiment of the region, its use in Europe and the United States outside Armenian, Syrian and Turkish immigrant communities was rare until the 20th century.

The pepper starts as pods, which ripen to a burgundy color, and then are semi-dried, de-seeded, then crushed or coarsely ground.

The Aleppo pepper has a mild “chilliness” or heat which is a moderate heat level of about 10,000 on the Scoville scale.

Botanically, Aleppo chile peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum annuum, are spicy, brightly colored pods that grow on shrubs reaching up to one meter in height.

They are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family. 

Aleppo chile peppers are conical, straight to curved pods, averaging 5 to 10 centimeters in length, and feature deep, vertical indentations across the surface.

The skin of the pod is glossy, smooth, and firm with a waxy consistency, transitioning in color from green, orange, to bright red when mature.

Underneath the surface, the semi-thick flesh ranges from pale red to orange and is crisp, striated, and aqueous.

The flesh encases a central cavity filled with membranes and small, round, cream-colored seeds.

What is the nutrition value of Aleppo Pepper?

Know the nutritional value of Halaby Pepper or Pul biber

Aleppo Pepper is a low fat food because it contains less than 3 grams of fat per suggested serving.

Aleppo pepper similar to red coloured food items is high on carotene and Vitamin A.

Along with Vitamin A, it is rich source of Vitamin C, Folic acid, Potassium, & Manganese.

Vitamin A is known to aid tissues of eyes and improves vision.

They also contain capsaicin that creates the feeling of heat or spice and is believed to have antibacterial and some pain reduction properties when used topically on the skin.

What is the chemical composition of Aleppo Pepper?

Know and understand about chemical composition of Halaby pepper or Pul biber.

It contains many chemical constituents like

  • capsaicin, luteolin 6,8-di-C-hexoside, luteolin O-malonylpentosyldihexoside,
  • luteolin 6-C-hexoside, dihydrocapsaicin, and kaempferol pentosyldihexoside
  • capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin were compounds that significantly increased due to the cooking process.

The cooking process not only positively affects the phenolic profile of pepper samples but also the colour, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity.

What is the history of Aleppo Pepper?

Know more about the origins & the story behind Halaby Pepper or Pul biber or Haleb biber

Chile peppers are native to South America and were brought to Europe with Spanish and Portuguese explorers returning from voyages to the New World.

As the plants were introduced to Spain and Italy, they were quickly spread across the Mediterranean Sea to Turkey and Syria. Many new varieties of peppers were created in cultivation.

The town of Aleppo, Syria is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.

Aleppo sits along the famed Silk Road that once stretched from North Africa and traveled east through Arabia, Persia, and China.

Along this trade route, spice was used as currency and traded for other goods dating back as far as 200 BCE.

Aleppo chile peppers were developed in Aleppo, which is a town along the Syrian border next to Turkey, and gained global popularity in 1994.

Aleppo pepper is also known as a halaby pepper or chile. The Aleppo pepper is named after the city Aleppo (Halab in Arabic) where it originated.

It was grown by Christian and Muslim Arab farmers, possibly nurtured by Sephardic Jewish spice merchants, and traded along the Silk Road.

Since the Syrian civil war broke out in the spring of 2011, chile crops have been destroyed, and many farmers have had to leave their crops.

In an effort to keep the variety in the markets, some farmers moved their production into southern Turkey.

There is also a Southern California self-prescribed “chileman” who obtained seeds from a USDA seed bank and has been successful at growing the peppers in Southern California.

For centuries, the halaby pepper has been used to season kebabs, stews, and sauces.

What does Aleppo Pepper taste like?

What is the the taste of Aleppo Pepper?

With its high oil content, this dried, seeded and crushed red pepper has a deliciously deep, aromatic flavor, somewhat similar to Ancho chili powder but with a coarser, flakey texture.

Aleppo pepper have a medium level of heat, a distinctive fruitiness with earthy flavor and hints of cumin.

Pul biber flavour can be further described as that with a little more tartness, sweet, rich and almost a robust smoky flavour.

The slightly salty quality that Aleppo pepper has comes due to its drying process with salt.

It hits you in the back of your mouth, tickles your throat and dissipates quickly.


Halaby pepper, pul biber, haleb biber


What are the uses of Aleppo Pepper?

Know more about how to use Aleppo Pepper or Halaby Pepper.

Aleppo chiles can be used in both raw and cooked applications such as roasting or grilling. They are usually dried and ground into a spice for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.

How long does Aleppo Pepper last?

Learn about how long does Halaby Pepper last in storage.

The peppers will keep up to one week when stored whole and unwashed in the refrigerator.

How do I store Aleppo Pepper?

Learn about how to store Aleppo Pepper.

For the best results, keep it stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator drawer as usual. You can also store it as you would other spices in a dark, dry space away from heat.

What can I use Aleppo Pepper for?

Learn how to use Kalpasi or Halaby Pepper in your food & beverages.
  • Aleppo peppers can be used in both raw and cooked applications such as roasting or grilling.
  • They are dried and ground into a spice for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.
  • When raw, the peppers can be chopped fresh for salsas, dips, sauces, or infused into oils.
  • Aleppo pepper can also be roasted and served as is or used to flavor meats such as poultry, lamb, or beef in braises and kebabs.
  • In Northern Syria, Aleppo peppers are air-dried, de-seeded and crushed to make a flaky spice called Pul biber, used much like red chili flake or paprika.
  • The dried and crushed seasoning can be added to egg dishes, potatoes, roasted vegetables, chili, pizzas, pasta, shaken over popcorn, or sprinkled on top of avocado toast.
  • The spice can even be used to rim a glass for a spicy addition to cocktails.
  • Aleppo peppers pair well with feta cheese, braised or roasted greens such as kale, broccoli, dill, mint, pickles, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, beans, grilled meats such as beef, pork, poultry, and lamb, seafood, and tofu.

Is there a substitute for Aleppo Pepper?

Learn how to use a substitute for Halaby Pepper or Pul biber if unavailable

If you can’t find Aleppo pepper, you can substitute a mixture of Hungarian sweet paprika and cayenne pepper.

Make sure to not go overboard with the cayenne—just a small pinch should be plenty. If you don’t have either of these spices, crushed red pepper works as a substitute in a pinch.

Where do I buy Aleppo Pepper from?

Where to Locate Aleppo Pepper in the Grocery Store?

Aleppo pepper will probably not be available at your standard grocery store, but it’s readily available online from retailers such as Amazon.

What are the health benefits of Aleppo Pepper or Halaby Pepper?

Learn about health benefits of Aleppo Pepper or Capsicum annuum

Health Benefits of Aleppo Pepper or Benefits of Pul biber

  • Health Benefits of Aleppo Peppers are Nutrition Source – They are a rich source of Vitamin A & C, Folic acid, Potassium, Manganese. Vitamin A is known to aid tissues of eyes and improves vision.
  • Health Benefits of Halaby Pepper for Immunity – Aleppo pepper is believed to boost the body immunity and helps in digestion of food.
  • Health Benefits of Aleppo Pepper for Digestion – It contains fiber which is good for your colons and keeps your digestive tract properly working. Alkaloids in Aleppo pepper acts as digestive stimulant.
  • Health Benefits of Halaby Pepper as an Antioxidant – Aleppo pepper contains various compounds having antioxidant properties. Due to these antioxidant properties of Aleppo pepper it can be considered good for your heart and reduces risk of heart attack.
  • Health Benefits of Pul biber as an Expectorant Aleppo pepper are believed to have mucus thinning properties and act as expectorant for asthmatic or cough conditions. It gives relief from nasal congestion and dilates airways in lungs.
  • Health Benefits of Aleppo Pepper as an Metabolism enhancers – It increases the metabolic rate of body. Tough calorie burn faster because of this increased metabolic rate.
  • Health Benefits of Halaby Pepper as an Anti-inflammatory Agent – Aleppo pepper contains capsaicin which offers hotness and is believed to reduce impact of inflammation causing substances. Heat inducing properties of Aleppo Pepper helps relieve inflammation related to asthma, arthritis, nerve disorders.
  • Health Benefits of Aleppo Pepper as an Anti-diabetic Agent – Capsaicin content in Aleppo pepper similar to other pepper is known to control body sugar levels. Clinical test results on mice have proved capsaicin as cure on diabetes.
  • Health Benefits of Halaby Pepper as a Detoxifying Agent – Aleppo pepper similar to other chilies acts as detoxifying agents and helps removal of waste products from body. Along with being antioxidant, it thus helps in prevention of cancers.
  • Aleppo Pepper is a stimulant for body enzymes and hormones – Aleppo Peppers stimulate release of endorphins which have pain killing effect. Endorphins also have soothing effect on brain.

All About Aleppo Pepper | Know Your Spice Aleppo Pepper or Halaby Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
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Aleppo Pepper Substitute | Pul Biber Substitute

The best substitute for Aleppo pepper, or Halaby peppers, is a mixture of sweet paprika and cayenne pepper. Aleppo pepper has a mild heat, so you can use about 4 times as much paprika as cayenne pepper. 
Course Spice Blends, Spice Powders, Spices
Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Diet Diabetic, Vegan
Keyword Aleppo Pepper, Aleppo Pepper Substitute
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 25 Servings
Calories 25kcal
Author Sumit Malhotra

Equipment

  • 1 Food Processor https://amzn.to/3Zg8GVD
  • 1 Mason Jar https://amzn.to/3KBD887

Ingredients

  • 20 tbsp Sweet Paprika
  • 5 tbsp Cayenne Pepper
  • Salt To Taste

Instructions

  • In a hot skillet over medium heat, toast the paprika & cayenne pepper until they develop a smoky aroma. Turn frequently. Be careful not to burn.
  • In the bowl of a food processor add the chillies with salt. Process until a powder forms.
  • Scoop out using a spatula & store in an airtight container or a mason jar in a cool dark place. You may also keep this in the fridge.

Notes

Think of this recipe as a guideline. Very the quantity of paprika and cayenne from your cupboard for the zing suitable for you. In a mason jar, they make great gifts!

Tools & Equipment Used For This Recipe

The links below the image lead to product links on Amazon.in & Amazon.com respectively

FInally! To Sum It Up

All About Aleppo Pepper (Capsicum annuum) | Benefits of Aleppo Pepper

Spice card – aleppo pepper, halaby pepper, pul biber, haleb biber

All About Aleppo Pepper | Know Your Spice Aleppo pepper or Halaby pepper (Capsicum annuum)

The Aleppo pepper is a variety of Capsicum annuum used as a spice, particularly in Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisine. It is also known as the Halaby pepper.

It is a robust, brick-red pepper grown in the around the city of Aleppo (Halab in Arabic & hence the name) in northwestern Syria, just south of the Turkish border.

This red spice information card above gives you a snapshot of Aleppo Pepper spice you’ll read about. Do share this spice card with your friends & spread the knowledge.

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