The 6 Best Substitutes for Roasted Red Peppers

Not having roasted red peppers for your recipe is not a big deal. I’ve been making dishes with just about every pepper in the world, and I know of several good substitutes. It’s very likely that you have one in your kitchen.

The six best substitutes for roasted red peppers are roasted cherry tomatoes, poblanos peppers, pimento peppers, jalapeño peppers, anaheim peppers, and jarred roasted red peppers. All of these foods will have similarities to the roasted red peppers and can easily be used as substitutes.

Now, let’s cover how to use each one in greater detail.

1. Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

A good substitute for roasted red peppers is roasted cherry tomatoes. Even though they’re not a pepper, the tomatoes can be close to the same flavor when used in cooking different dishes. 

The tomatoes are sweeter in taste and a bit mushier in texture, so keep that in mind when using them as a substitute. 

Cherry tomatoes can add a good amount of flavor to various dishes. Tomatoes are roasted in a similar way to peppers. 

Cherry tomatoes are a good substitute if you have no other peppers available. Just remember that there will be a noticeable difference in the taste, but it should still taste delicious. 

2. Roasted Poblanos Peppers

Even though the poblanos pepper isn’t technically a red pepper, it can still be used as a substitute. It might not taste exactly like the roasted red peppers, but it won’t be a huge difference. 

According to Broke Bank vegan, poblanos peppers taste sweet and almost fruity when roasted. They resemble the flavor of a green bell pepper more than they do a red one. Other than that, the peppers are relatively similar when used in dishes. 

In fact, poblanos peppers are used in numerous dishes because they aren’t insanely spicy. They’re a little spicy but not unbearably hot, making them a good substitute.

They’ll have a great roasted flavor, just like a red pepper would, so you won’t be disappointed using them in your recipe. 

3. Pimento Peppers 

Pimento Peppers are a type of red pepper that is smaller than a red bell pepper and has a low spiciness. They’re sweeter than red peppers but still have a great flavor, so they can be used as a substitute. 

Pimento peppers are used in many dishes, such as pimento cheese, or paired with other veggies and cheeses as an appetizer. 

You can find fresh pimento peppers in most supermarkets, or you can buy them jarred. Either way, they can be used in place of roasted red peppers and roasted just the same.

If using them in a recipe, add some extra spices if the sweet flavor of the pimento is too mild for your liking. 

Red and pimento peppers are used interchangeably in many recipes because of their similarities, and alternating them doesn’t change the flavor drastically. 

4. Jalapeño Peppers

You can roast jalapeño peppers just like red peppers. However, using these as a substitute will increase the heat in your recipe. Jalapeños are much spicier than red peppers. 

This is the perfect substitute if you want your recipe to be spicy. Also, the peppers will have the same texture as red peppers, and they won’t change the consistency of the recipe, only the spice level. 

Remember that when substituting jalapeños, you might want to use less than you would with roasted red peppers. This all depends on how spicy you want the flavor to be. 

Depending on the recipe, you might have to use less of other spices. This ensures there isn’t too much overpowering spice in the dish. Keep this in mind and do taste tests when making a dish using roasted jalapeño peppers. 

5. Anaheim Peppers

Anaheim peppers can also be a substitute for roasted red peppers. The anaheim pepper is a chili pepper, not a bell pepper. However, it can still be used as a substitute. 

Anaheim peppers are a little on the spicy side. According to Chili Pepper Madness, they are more pungent than a red pepper but not as spicy as a jalapeño. These peppers can be used when they’re still green or when they turn red. 

Anaheim peppers are great when roasted; they may be used in various cuisines. This makes them an excellent substitute for roasted red peppers, especially if you just want a little more spice. 

6. Jarred Roasted Red Peppers

Jarred red peppers can be used in place of fresh roasted red peppers. Many people buy jarred roasted peppers because it’s easier and less time-consuming than making your own.

 Even though roasting your own isn’t difficult, sometimes it’s easier to eliminate extra steps in your recipe. 

The taste difference between fresh and jarred roasted red peppers isn’t very significant. Usually, fresh is best and more flavorful so if you prefer that, then roast your own. 

However, jarred roasted red peppers are preserved in olive oil and other spices, so the flavor still packs a good punch. 

If you use roasted red peppers a lot, then it may be better to make your own to save money. However, if you only use them here and there, it’s probably not worth the time it takes to make them yourself just to use them occasionally. 

Can I Easily Make Roasted Red Peppers?

You can easily make roasted peppers at home. You can roast them in the oven or on a gas stove. Roasting can be time-consuming, but it’s not difficult. It will be worth the time for some homemade roasted peppers. 

You can roast red peppers on an open flame if you’d like to do it this way. The flavor doesn’t change, no matter how you do it. However, doing it this way may be a little more challenging.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• A gas stove or an open flame of some sort, such as a grill, will do. Remember to practice general safety when dealing with an open flame. 
• Red bell peppers.
• Tongs or something similar to grab the hot peppers with. 
• Plastic ziplock bags or a closed container. 
• Knife

Now that you’ve gathered what you need, here are the steps on how to roast the red peppers: 

1. Use a gas stove or open flame on a grill to place the peppers on to roast them.
2. Make sure to rotate them as they cook to get the entire pepper evenly black. You can use tongs to do this to avoid getting burnt. 
3. Place the peppers in a plastic bag or another tightly covered container after they have finished roasting so they may steam for a short period.
4. Wait for the peppers to cool, then take a knife and peel off the charred skin.
5. Cut the pepper open and remove the seeds. 

Most people put their peppers in the oven to roast them. Before you do this, make sure you have these items ready to go: 

• Baking sheet
• Aluminum foil 
• Red bell peppers
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Seasoning of your choice
• Ziplock bag or a closed container 
• Knife

Now, you can roast the red peppers in two different ways. Some cut them up to roast them, while others roast the pepper whole and cut it after. Either way is effective when roasting, so do whichever you prefer. If you cut them beforehand, you’ll need to remove the seeds.

1. Heat the oven to 500° Fahrenheit (260° Celcius). It needs to be this hot to roast the peppers properly. 
2. While waiting for the oven to preheat, place aluminum foil to cover the baking sheet. 
3. Place your cut or whole peppers evenly on the baking sheet. 
4. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper onto the peppers. This will help them roast and have a good flavor. 
5. Now the next part is optional. Some like to add other seasonings to their peppers before roasting; others don’t. If you choose to add more seasonings, now is the time to do so in the preparation process. 
6. According to Project Meal Plan, you should put your baking sheet of peppers into the oven and cook for 30 to 40 minutes.

You’ll know when your peppers are done cooking because they will look crisp all over. The skin on the peppers becomes wrinkled and darkened when roasted, so make sure you see this all over the peppers. 

Rotating the peppers a few times while cooking is also beneficial to ensure they roast evenly. 

Once the peppers are done cooking, just a few more steps are left to follow. 

1. Remove the peppers from the baking sheet and put them in a dish with a lid or a Ziplock bag. This will enable them to steam for a short period of time, facilitating easy skin peeling.
2. Once they’re done, use a knife or your fingers to remove the skins on the peppers. 
3. If you used whole peppers, now is the time to cut them open and remove the seeds. 
4. Once you’ve completed these steps, you can eat the roasted peppers, cook with them, or store them in a mason jar if you wish to do so. 

As long as you follow the instructions above, you’ll have no issues making roasted red peppers yourself. Roasting red peppers this way is how you would roast any of the peppers mentioned earlier. Remember to practice basic safety measures when dealing with an oven or gas stove.

Thanks for stoppin’ by!

Jelly Grandma

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