Urfa, flakes

The Urfa pepper is from Turkey, and one of its most notable characteristics is its colour – ripening to a deep, dark red. It is then sun-dried, then tightly wrapped overnight to retain moisture. This process changes its colour again to a beautiful dark purple, almost black.

Its flavour is slightly smoky, with particularly strong notes of raisin, and it is fairly mild, giving a gentle heat which builds into a lingering and deep warmth.

Urfa is commonly used in Turkish ‘ockabasi’ (barbecue) cooking, as its bold and deep flavour stands up well to the high heat this style uses. It works particularly well with lamb, sprinkled onto the meat before grilling or roasting. Try also mixing it with a little olive oil, drizzled over hummus to give the dip a real lift.

Heat level -4