Urfa Biber

Chris's perfect-score Turkish pappardelle was finished with urfa chili oil. Urfa biber is a Turkish dried chili from the Şanlıurfa region — sun-ripened to deep red, then sweated in cloth at night and dried by day, which traps moisture and produces a soft, slightly oily, dark-burgundy flake. Flavor is moderate heat with a distinct dried-fruit, raisin, and chocolate note — closer to ancho than to Aleppo or Maraş chili. Use it in oils, lamb rubs, on labneh, or scattered over tomato dishes where you want depth without piercing heat. A little vinegar or lemon zest in the oil keeps the color bright.