Urfa Biber Chile Flakes

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum ‘Urfa Biber’

Flavor: Rich, Sweet, slightly Earthy and Smoky, Salty, mildly Tangy, with hints of Raisin, and Chocolate

Heat Level: Moderate – 6,000 to 12,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units)

Origin: Turkey

Use With: Chicken, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Game Meats, Fish, Seafood, Shellfish, Rice, Legumes, and Vegetables

Description: Urfa Biber (AKA Isot Chile) is a Turkish chile pepper named for the town of Urfa on the Syrian Border in the South of Turkey. The chiles start off green, ripen to a bright red, and then trun a very deep red, almost maroon color when fully mature. The chiles go through a two-part drying process where they are dried in the sun during the day and are tightly wrapped at night to ‘sweat’. Exposure to direct sunlight ‘chars’ the chiles to a deep burgundy, almost black color while the ‘sweating’ process allows more of the natural oils to remain keeping the skin ‘moist’ and flexible before being coarsely ground with a bit of salt. Urfa Biber Chile Flakes are distinctive for their deep burgundy color and intriguing rich, smoky, salty, sweet-sour flavor and are used throughout Turkey and the surrounding region as a seasoning and as a condiment an all types of foods

Suggested Uses:

While Urfa Biber Chile Flakes are a key ingredient in authentic Turkish cuisine, they can be used as a substitute anywhere that you would use ‘Cayenne’, ‘red chile powder’, ‘red pepper’, ‘crushed red pepper’, ‘pepper flakes’, or any variety of dried chile powder

• Use to add incredible flavor to marinades, soups, stews, sauces, dressings, and dips
• Mix with ground meat for incredible burgers, kebabs, meatballs, and meatloaf
• Add to dry rubs for meats, fish, and vegetables for roasting or the grill
• Sprinkle over steaks, shish kababs, grilled or roasted vegetables and seafood for a touch of smokiness and a touch of heat
• Use in your favorite chili con carne or barbeque sauce recipe for depth and complex richness
• Sprinkle a bit over cut fruit, a fruit salad, or even strawberry ice cream for a surprisingly complimentary flavor
• Add to fruit jellies, jams, and other sweets to elevate their flavor and add a pleasant bit of heat
• Sprinkle over scrambled eggs, roasted or smashed potatoes, popcorn, pizza, scrambled or deviled eggs, salads, or on any menu item you want to add deep, rich chile flavor with just a bit of heat