The Scotch Bonnet pepper is very similar to the habanero pepper.
Hot peppers are scored on the Scoville scale according to their heat index. Scotch Bonnet peppers score between 150,000 to 325,000 Scoville Heat Units, so you should try to choose a pepper with a similar heat index when making a substitution. If you recipe calls for a very hot pepper like the Scotch Bonnet, you may need to increase the amount of peppers used if you choose to substitute a less spicy pepper.
Habanero Chile
The habanero chili and the Scotch Bonnet pepper are similar in both look and flavor. Substitute equal amounts of habanero chili peppers for Scotch Bonnet peppers. The habanero's fruity flavor is still extremely hot with a Scoville heat index of 150,000 to 325,000.
Serrano Pepper
Since the Serrano pepper only has a heat index of between 8,000 to 22,000, you should double the amount used if substituting for Scotch Bonnet peppers. You can use Serrano peppers without peeling or steaming them; just chop and add to your recipe.
Jalapeno Pepper
Jalapeno peppers have a Scoville heat index of between 3,000 to 8,000, so double the amount used in your recipe calling for Scotch Bonnet peppers. Jalapeno peppers are available in red or green, fresh or canned, although fresh is always a better choice for both heat and flavor.
Tags: Scotch Bonnet, heat index, Bonnet peppers, Scotch Bonnet peppers, amount used, Bonnet pepper
