swap_horiz Maras Pepper Alternatives

1

Black Pepper

Black pepper originates from *Piper nigrum*, a vine species native to South India. The dried berries are harvested and p...

Seed Universal Savory Pungent

9.2 Excellent

2

Pimentón de la Vera

Pimentón de la Vera is a Spanish spice made from smoked capsicum peppers grown within the La Vera valley of Extremadura....

Spanish Pdo Gourmet Smoky

9.1 Excellent

3

Cumin

Cumin is the dried seed of *Cuminum cyminum*, a plant originating in the eastern Mediterranean region. It’s notable for...

Seed Universal Savory Earthy

9.1 Excellent

4

Sesame Seed

Sesame seed is one of the oldest known oilseed crops, with Sesamum indicum cultivated for at least 3,500 years, valued g...

Seed Universal Savory Nutty

8.9 Great

5

Smoked Paprika

Smoked paprika is made from Capsicum annuum peppers dried over oak fires, a technique developed in the La Vera region of...

Spanish Savory Smoky Chile

8.8 Great

6

Ancho Chile

Ancho chile is the dried form of the poblano pepper (Capsicum annuum), one of the most widely used dried chiles in Mexic...

Savory Mexican Fruity Capsicum

8.8 Great

7

Guajillo Chile

Guajillo chile is a dried mirasol pepper (Capsicum annuum) widely used in Mexican salsas and mole sauces, with a tangy,...

Mexican Tangy Mole Dried

8.8 Great

8

Piment d'Espelette

Piment d'Espelette is a mildly hot Capsicum annuum grown in the Basque commune of Espelette, France, granted Appellation...

Mild French Basque Pdo

8.7 Great

9

Star Anise

Star anise is the star-shaped fruit of Illicium verum, native to southern China and Vietnam, and is the primary commerci...

Savory Chinese Fruit Licorice

8.7 Great

10

Urfa Biber

Urfa biber is a dark, sun-dried and night-sweated Turkish chile from Şanlıurfa province with a smoky, raisin-like flavor...

Dark Savory Earthy Turkish

8.6 Great

11

Sweet Paprika

Sweet paprika is a mild ground red powder made from dried Capsicum annuum peppers, most famously produced in Hungary and...

Mild Hungarian Savory Chile

8.4 Great

12

New Mexico Chile

New Mexico chile (Capsicum annuum) is the cornerstone ingredient of New Mexican cuisine, grown in the Hatch Valley and R...

Savory Earthy Southwest Dried

8.3 Great

13

Kashmiri Chile

Kashmiri chile is a mild, vibrantly red Capsicum variety grown in the Kashmir Valley prized primarily for its intense cr...

Mild Indian Color Capsicum

8.1 Great

14

Hot Paprika

Hot paprika is a ground Capsicum blend with a higher proportion of seeds and veins retained to increase heat, used promi...

Hungarian Savory Hot Chile

7.8 Good

15

White Pepper

White pepper is black pepper with the outer hull removed after soaking, producing a milder, earthier flavor preferred in...

Mild Seed Savory Fermented

7.5 Good

16

Cascabel Chile

A small, round dried Mexican chile whose loose seeds rattle inside the pod, producing mild heat of 1,000–3,000 SHU with...

Savory Mexican Nutty Dried

7.4 Good

17

Shallot Powder

Shallot powder is dehydrated, ground shallot (Allium ascalonicum) that offers a subtler, slightly sweeter flavor profile...

Mild European Savory Allium

7.2 Good

18

Dried Parsley

Dried parsley from Petroselinum crispum, native to the central Mediterranean, is among the most widely consumed herbs gl...

Mild Herb Universal Savory

6.6 Fair

19

Dried Chervil

Dried chervil from Anthriscus cerefolium, native to the Caucasus region, is one of the four fines herbes of classical Fr...

Mild French Herb Savory

6.6 Fair

20

Dried Turmeric Leaf

Dried turmeric leaf comes from Curcuma longa, the same Southeast Asian plant as the root spice, and is used in Indonesia...

Mild Savory South Asian Leaf

6.6 Fair