A scotch bonnet is a type of chili pepper found in the Caribbean and West Africa. It is quite spicy, and it is necessary to remove the seeds before using in cooking if you don’t want it too hot. It is most similar to the habanero. If you don’t have scotch bonnet peppers available or you find them too spicy, you can always replace them with habaneros or jalapenos. In a pinch you can use Tabasco sauce instead.