Could I substitute Anaheim chilies for Guajillo Chilies in a curry paste?
I am trying to prepare a red curry paste, and the recipe calls for dried Guajillo chilies. I could not find them at any of my local stores, but I did find dried New Mexico and Anaheim chilies (which I've discovered after the fact are probably the same thing).
I read that the Anaheims are a bit less spicy than the Guajillos (500-2500 vs. 2500-5000 Scoville Units). I wanted to mention that I'm already aware of the difference in spiciness, because I am not especially concerned about that aspect of the comparison. The recipe also includes some considerably spicier peppers, so this part shouldn't make much difference.
I am more interested in the flavor. Since I am not familiar with Guajillo chilies, I do not know if their flavor is sufficiently similar to that of the ones I have for me to use them in the recipe.
Best Answer
Anaheims would be OK, but their flavor isn't just milder with respect to heat, but just generally weaker. Pasilla would be closest in flavor. Ancho is usually pretty easy to find and is fairly similar, just not as hot. Chile de Arbol would be a good substitute, as would plain old cayenne if you can find dried cayenne peppers. Heck, red pepper flakes (made from cayenne) might even do the trick, but getting the amount right would be tough.
Alternatively, Amazon (of course), Penzeys, and other online food stores sell dried guajillo chiles. Then you won't have to worry about it!
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What can I use instead of chile guajillo?
For Mexican dishes the easiest substitute to find is the Ancho chile, while the chile that closest matches the flavor profile and heat is the Pasilla Negro chile and the best to add some excitement to a dish is the Cascabel Chile.What to use Anaheim peppers for?
You can completely char them and then peel the skin off\u2014then put the flesh in all your sauces, salsas, and soups. They're more substantial than a long-hot, which has a thin flesh that sometimes gets lost in the cooking process, and thinner than a bell pepper, which is a bell pepper.What is similar to Anaheim chili?
Anaheim Pepper Substitute The best substitutes for Anaheim peppers are bell peppers, poblano peppers or cubanelle peppers, depending on your recipe. You can swap them for bell peppers or cubanelles for general cooking, for example when cooking them down with onions and garlic.Are California chiles guajillo?
With notes of sweet dried cherries and a mild heat, New Mexico chiles would make a good guajillo pepper replacement if you pair them with a spicier pepper like chile de \xe1rbol. California. While more mild than guajillos, California chiles (dried Anaheims) are within the same flavor family and make a great substitution.MEXICAN CHILI PEPPERS 101
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