Kashmiri chili (Kashmiri mirch)

Kashmiri chili is an Indian hot pepper originating from Kashmir. The chili has a vibrant red color and mild levels of heat, with Scoville heat units (SHU) ranging from 1,000 to 2,000. This staple of Indian cooking is typically used dried, either as powder or flakes.

This chili variety is highly praised for its red color that gives vibrancy to tandoori chicken, vindaloo, or rogan josh. In soups and braises, Kashmiri chili is often used as a substitute for paprika powder. The dried variety is conical, wrinkled, and elongated.