Urfa Biber (Isot Pepper) from Turkey

The Urfa Pepper (also called Isot Pepper) comes from the Urfa region in Turkey. The smoky flavor is commonly described as a chocolate/raisin/coffee flavor with a little bit of heat.

The pepper is actually red, but through a special process (alternating between being sun-dried then wrapped overnight), the skin darkens to a deep purple or black. It’s used in traditional Turkish and Kurdish dishes. It works nicely in eggplant and lamb dishes, grilled cheese, kebabs, vegetables, eggs, salads, and other meat. Try mixing it with cumin, cardamom, onion powder, or ginger to get a nice blend for soup or for meat rubs.

Urfa pepper is preserved using salt and oil.