turkish pepper paste or biber salçası Ayshim, 5 November 20125 March 2024 Some like it hot, some like it sweet. Whichever you prefer, Turkish Pepper Paste (Biber Salçası) is the ultimate ingredient of every Turkish pantry. Turkish Pepper Paste (Biber Salçası) –also called kırmızı biber salçası –is made from crushed and sun-dried red peppers. Salt is added as a preservative so that it would last through the winter. There are two varieties: hot pepper paste (acı biber salçası ) and sweet pepper paste (tatlı biber salçası). Pepper paste is used widely in Turkish cuisine. However, my mother was not a huge fan of it or anything hot. I remember the first time I tried pepper paste; I had itchy arms for a day although it was mixed with plain tomato paste and not hot at all. Eventually, I learnt to like it. Now I use it all the time like in the winter, I use it in clay pot dishes. In the summer, mostly in mezes and dips. Back in Turkey, making your own pepper paste at home is widely practiced in villages and small towns, even today. Village ladies make large quantities of pepper paste when the peppers are in season and abundant. Then the pepper paste is left to sun-dry, usually on a terrace. Sometimes, they sell their produce at their local markets, too. For those of us who cannot get home made Turkish pepper paste, a store-bought ones are ideal. They come in glass jars (see photo below) and you can get them from shops specialising in Turkish or Middle Eastern food. Check out my list in “Where to Buy” section below. Where to Buy: In Sydney – Australia, hot pepper paste I available through these shops: Gima Supermarket31 – 35 Queen StreetAuburn NSW 2144Phone: 02 9749 4588 Arzum Market61 Rawson StreetAuburn NSW 2144Phone: 02 9649 9327 Izmir DelicatessenShop 5, 471 Seaview StreetDulwich Hill NSW 2203Phone: 02 9568 3243Website Oriental and Continental Food Wholesalers43 Carlotta StreetArtarmon NSW 2064Phone: 02 9906 8990 Sometimes Super Sahel Persian Market and Deli has the pepper paste. They also sell hot nuts 🙂Address: 337 Penshurst StreetNorth Willoughby NSW 2068Phone: 02 9417 6766 In the US, Turkish pepper paste can be ordered online through Tulumba and they deliver nationwide. Where to Use: Generally, pepper paste is used in stews, main dishes, pide, lahmacun and börek mixtures, mezes, dips, spreads and in sauces. Please note that Turkish pepper paste should be stored in the fridge. ayshim's pantry turkish