Urfa Pepper

Appears in
Flavors of the Sun: The Sahadi’s Guide to Understanding, Buying, and Using Middle Eastern Ingredients
Flavors of the Sun

By Christine Sahadi Whelan

Published 2021

  • About
This Turkish chile, also called Urfa biber, has only recently become readily available outside of the Middle East. It has a stronger bite than the milder Aleppo peppers. On the plant it is more burgundy than red in appearance and dries to a rich color indicative of its deeper, winey flavor with smoky notes similar to a chipotle. It is full of flavor, with a nice heat that lingers.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR · Urfa peppers are allowed to dry on the vine before harvest, and like a sun-dried tomato, they remain somewhat soft, with a slightly chewy texture. Look for a deep red-brown hue and a smoky aroma.