Kırmızı Biber

A ubiquitous spice made from mild chilli peppers. It can be made at home by crushing the long dried peppers and rubbing them in oil. You can roast these oiled flakes in an oven or in a heavy-based pan over a high flame until almost black. The spice is also bought in finely ground form, which is usually hot. If you cannot get the correct kırmızı biber in Middle Eastern and Italian shops, it is best to create a comfortable mixture of sweet paprika and cayenne to adapt to the recipes.