Turkish chili flakes (pul biber, Aleppo pepper)

pul biber / Aleppo pepper

Flavor and role

Turkish and Syrian chili made from semi-dried red peppers tossed with oil and salt and coarsely crushed; medium heat with a fruity aroma and moist texture.

Typical dishes and uses

Menemen, çılbır (Turkish poached eggs with yogurt), kebabs, muhammara, finishing soups. In this book: menemen and Turkish yogurt pasta.

Substitutes

1 tsp pul biber = 1 tsp coarse Korean chili flakes (gochugaru), or ¾ tsp paprika + ¼ tsp red chili flakes.

Storage

Light and heat quickly dull the colour and aroma. Sealed and refrigerated or frozen, it keeps its bright colour and aroma for about 1 year.

Main countries

Türkiye · SY

Used in this book

Turkish Yogurt Pasta (Yalancı Mantı)Çılbır (Turkish Poached Eggs on Garlic Yogurt)Home-Style Döner Kebabİskender KebabKarnıyarık (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)Izgara köfteKumpir (Turkish Loaded Baked Potato)LahmacunMercimek Çorbası (Turkish Red Lentil Soup)Baba ganoush eggplant boatsWhipped Bissara Dip with Sizzling Cumin-Chili ButterBrown Butter Çılbır with Whipped Garlic Yogurt and Grilled SourdoughÇılbır Jammy Egg Bulgur Bowl with Crispy ChickpeasLamb and Beef Dürüm Döner with Homemade LavashDöner Pizza (Turkish × Italian)Crispy Döner Cheese Toastie with Garlic-Dill Yogurt DipSlow-Simmered Ful with Tahini and Garlic TashaMarinated-feta horiatiki with tomato-water dressingWhipped feta horiatiki toastHarira Chickpea Toast with Lemon YogurtCrispy Chickpea Hummus Toast with Jammy Eggİmam Bayıldı Parmigiana (Turkish x Italian)İmam Bayıldı Feta Galette with Chilli HoneyOven-Stacked Döner İskenderİskender Udonİskender Sigara BörekLamb Karnıyarık with Pepper-Paste Sauce and Sumac OnionsKarnıyarık Flatbread Pizza with Garlic Yogurt Drizzleİskender köfteSmash köfte burgerSucuk Kumpir with Homemade Russian SaladMini Kumpir Party BitesCrispy lahmacun bulgur bowlHand-Cut Lamb and Squash Manti with Chilli Brown ButterBrown Butter Pul Biber MenemenMenemen Egg BoatsLokanta-Style Velvet Lentil Soup with CroutonsLentil Soup Shakshuka with Garlic Yogurt & Chili ButterMisir Wat Lentil Toast with Jammy EggCrispy Moussaka BowlPkhali Pesto Spaghetti (Georgian × Italian)Hot Spanakopita Dip with Sesame Phyllo CrispsBaked Beef Yalancı Mantı with Brown Chili ButterTurkish Pasta Chips with Chili Butter Yogurt Dip

Updated 2026-10-10