What Is Pepper Paste?
Pepper paste is a Turkish ingredient made by boiling and mashing ripe red peppers (usually sweet or mildly hot varieties), then thickening the mixture in the sun or in a low-temperature oven for days, stirring it throughout.
Unlike tomato paste, it is a darker red-brown color and has a sweeter, deeper pepper flavor; using hot peppers also adds noticeable heat.
Pepper Paste Nutrition Facts
Pepper paste provides approximately 90 kcal per 100 g; it retains some of the peppers’ vitamin C (which decreases during cooking) and contains sodium depending on the amount of salt used. Values are approximate.
How Should Pepper Paste Be Eaten?
Pepper paste is used in moderate amounts to add flavor to dishes as part of a balanced diet.
This is general information. Pepper paste is a food and is not a substitute for medical treatment. Because its salt content can be high, people on sodium-restricted diets are advised to use it in moderation.
How to Choose Pepper Paste
Good pepper paste is dark red-brown, has a natural roasted pepper aroma, and is thick and paste-like. Avoid products with artificial coloring.
- It should be dark red-brown.
- It should smell naturally of roasted peppers, not artificial or chemical.
- It should be thick and paste-like, not runny or watery.
How to Store Pepper Paste
After opening, pepper paste can be stored for a few months in a closed jar in the refrigerator; pouring a thin layer of olive oil over it reduces air exposure and extends its shelf life.
How to Use Pepper Paste in the Kitchen
Pepper paste is used most often in sautéed meat, kuru fasulye (dried white bean stew), lentil soup, and the sautéing stage of meat dishes, together with tomato paste or on its own; it is also a flavor base for çiğ köfte (spiced bulgur patties) and spicy tomato-pepper dip.
Are Pepper Paste and Tomato Paste Used Together?
Often, yes. Many traditional recipes use both: pepper paste adds a sweet, deep note, while tomato paste adds mild tartness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pepper paste spicy?
It depends on the type of pepper used: paste made from sweet peppers is not spicy, while varieties containing hot peppers are noticeably spicy. Check the label when choosing.
Can pepper paste be made at home?
Yes. After boiling and mashing the red peppers, mix them with salt and thicken the mixture in the sun or in a low-temperature oven for days, stirring throughout. It is traditional but labor-intensive.
Is pepper paste available throughout Türkiye?
Yes. It is sold next to tomato paste in nearly every grocery store and is especially known for traditional production in southeastern Anatolia.