Urfa biber ✦

Piment d’Urfa

What it is

For a week or more the peppers are laid out in the sun by day and wrapped tight in cloth at night, so the moisture drawn to the surface is pushed back into the flesh and the fruit ferments as it dries. No smoke ever touches them: the tobacco, raisin and cocoa are made by that sweating alone.

In the kitchen

It is sold oiled and salted, so taste it before you salt the dish. Warm a spoonful in oil barely above hand temperature rather than frying it — past a simmer the raisin note goes and only ash is left.

Goes with

Lamb Eggplant Yogurt Walnut Tomato Pomegranate molasses

Same species

Ají amarillo Ají panca Ajvar Aleppo pepper Ancho chilli Bell pepper

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