Food with paprika is a collection of recipes, stories and photos from around the world. It’s about food that takes you on a journey and makes you feel at home wherever you are. Paprika is made from grinding down the dried red fruits of a pepper plant called capsicum. In this article, we shall learn about different types of paprikas and their flavor profiles.
Smoked paprika recipes are some of the best recipes that you can make. These smoked paprika recipes will guide you through more than just smoked paprika recipes. You will find the health benefits of paprika below.
Food With Paprika
Although it originated in Mexico, paprika has found its way into cuisines from all over the world. The spice – which is made by drying red bell peppers and grinding them up – has become a permanent fixture in the food of Spain, the sweet, aromatic dishes of North Africa, hearty eastern European stews and fragrant Indian curries (plus many more). Paprika is not just paprika, though – a huge part of its versatility comes from the many forms it takes, including smoked paprika, which adds a beautiful kick of flavour to all sorts of dishes.
It can be tempting to just sprinkle a bit of paprika over your food for a splash of colour, but knowing how to use it properly will make all the difference to your cooking. We’ve rounded up our favourite paprika recipes to provide some inspiration if you’re looking to make the most of your jar.
1. Grilled sardines with paprika mayonnaise
Grilled sardines with paprika mayonnaise
by Nathan Outlaw
Using smoked paprika in cooking can feel a bit like cheating sometimes – it instantly adds a smoky warmth to whatever you stir it into or sprinkle it over. Nathan Outlaw uses it to add flavour to mayonnaise, which he serves alongside simply grilled sardines and a clump of pickled vegetables. The tangy pickles cut through the oily fish, while the paprika mayo brings everything together beautifully.
2. Romesco sauce
Romesco sauce
by Sally Abé
One of the cornerstones of Catalan cuisine, Romesco sauce is rich, smoky and piquant. It’s traditionally served with calçots, a type of Spanish spring onion, but it works as a dip for all sorts of crudités and vegetables. A combination of almonds, sherry vinegar, paprika and garlic, the ingredients are blitzed together and emulsified with fruity olive oil. Try it with simple grilled fish for an authentic Catalan dinner.
3. Kalonji Jhinga tiger prawns
Kalonji Jhinga
Tiger prawns are fat, juicy and sweet, and with the right marinade can be turned into a dish that needs no accompaniment. Give them an Indian twist with Alfred Prasad’s recipe for Kalonji Jhinga, a traditional starter that’s full of flavour. The prawns are given a quick marinade in Greek yoghurt flavoured with plenty of paprika, garlic and ginger, before being quickly grilled or barbecued until lightly charred.
4. Spicy beef shin hotpot
Spicy beef shin hotpot with roast squash wedges
A one pot dish that’s bound to impress, this beef shin stew is given a Spanish-Mexican kick thanks to chorizo, chickpeas and a hefty tablespoon of smoked paprika. While it takes a good few hours to cook, this is a recipe ideal for cooking in big batches before transferring to the freezer, as this gives the ingredients time to develop in flavour. A hearty, satisfying dinner recipe for when the weather starts to turn cold.
5. Goulash
Goulash and spaghetti
Goulash is Hungary’s national dish, and paprika plays a central role in the creamy beef stew. Here, Geoffrey Smeddle shares his simple version, choosing smoked paprika to flavour the sour cream sauce. The cream helps mellow the paprika to create a seriously comforting dish that’s perfect for dinner on a chilly evening.
Smoked Paprika Recipes
Easy Paella with Smoked Paprika
The ultimate smoked paprika recipe: paella! This traditional Spanish rice dish is actually easy to make at home: we promise! You don’t even need a fancy pan: a large skillet will do! Smoked paprika adds an earthy flair to the rice, which is topped with veggies, artichokes and shrimp. It’s a stunning recipe for entertaining, but easy enough for a weeknight.
Spanish Patatas Bravas
Patatas bravas are traditional Spanish tapas: fried potatoes with a warm sauce. Here’s a version you can make at home! Here the potatoes are baked until crispy, instead of fried. They’re topped with a creamy aioli sauce mixed with smoked paprika for a smoky flair!
Wedge Salad with Smoky Ranch
Here’s one of our favorite smoked paprika recipes: Smoky Ranch Dressing. That’s right: it’s homemade ranch dressing, made smoky by adding a bit of smoked paprika! Drizzle it over an iceberg wedge and top with chives, sundried tomatoes, blue cheese and crushed potato chips, and it’s heavenly.
Gnocchi with 5 Minute Romesco Sauce
Romesco sauce is another traditional smoked paprika recipe! Romesco is a Spanish sauce made with jarred red peppers, garlic, olive oil, and almonds. It often has smoked paprika for a smoky undertone, as does this one. You can blend it up in just 5 minutes! Serve it with gnocchi for a super-fast meal.
Perfect Vegan Black Bean Burger
Smoked paprika is a great way to add meatiness to vegetarian and plant based recipes. Here it is adding a meaty undertone in this black bean burger! Made with sweet potato and black beans, top it with spicy mayo for a hearty meal.
Different Types of Paprika
There’s a big difference between sweet, smoked, and hot paprika.
Every time I found a recipe that called for smoked or hot paprika, I shrugged and sprinkled in the regular stuff instead. I thought the different varieties didn’t really make a difference, so there wasn’t a need for me to keep three different versions of the same spice on hand.
Turns out, I was wrong. Paprika in its simplest form is made from grinding sweet pepper pods to create the iconic bright red powder. But depending on the variety of paprika, the color can range from a bright orange-red to a deep blood red and the flavor can be anything from sweet and mild to bitter and hot.
Eating healthy should still be delicious.
Be careful to purchase the right kind of paprika for your dishes, and store the spice in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
Sweet Paprika
Typically just labeled as paprika, this spice adds vibrant color to any dish. It can be sprinkled as a garnish over deviled eggs or potato salad, or used as a flavoring for meat rubs. It has a sweet pepper flavor, without any heat. If a recipe doesn’t specify the type of paprika, we recommend using this kind.
Some dishes that call for sweet paprika are flexible with type, like our Chorizo Roasted Poblano Pepper Wild Rice Stuffing. Sweet paprika provides a sweeter flavor to calm down the heat, but smoked paprika will add a delicious, subtle smokiness. Other dishes, like Moroccan Butternut Squash Chickpea Stew and Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Roast need the sweet paprika to balance other spices. We generally don’t recommend substituting in hot or smoked paprika.
Hot Paprika
Hot paprika is the Hungarian variety of paprika, and is generally accepted as superior to the rest. In Hungarian cuisine, paprika is used as a primary flavoring method, instead of simply adding color to a dish. It is most commonly found in classic dishes like Goulash, a stew made from red meat. onions, potatoes, and vegetables, and served over egg noodles, and the creamy Paprikash, a similar stew that uses lighter meats and sour cream.
This version adds a peppery, spicy kick to any dish. Our Paprika Rubbed Sheet Tray Chicken blends both hot and smoked paprika for a truly fiery bite, while our Breakfast Hot Dish subs hot paprika in for spicy Aleppo pepper. You can sub sweet paprika into dishes that call for hot paprika and sprinkle a touch of cayenne pepper in to compensate for the heat. We do not recommend using smoked paprika in place of hot.
Smoked Paprika
Smoked paprika, often called pimenton or smoked Spanish paprika, is made from peppers that are smoked and dried over oak fires. This process gives the red powder a rich, smoky flavor. You can find this smoked variety in mild, medium-hot, and hot. True Spanish pimenton is produced using traditional techniques and comes from specific areas in Spain, as per the European Union’s laws.
This variety is has a smoky flavor you might find by grilling outdoors or charring a red pepper. The flavor is still sweet and cool without adding any heat to the dish, unless you purchase a hot, smoked variety. You can sample the smokey undertones in our Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Smoked Paprika-Honey Butter or dig into a bowl of Smoky Lentil Stew. You can sub in sweet paprika into dishes that call for smoked, but it will drastically change the flavor of the dish by removing the smokiness.
Information in this article comes from The New Food Lover’s Companion Fifth Edition by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst unless otherwise noted.
Health Benefits of Paprika
1. Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Paprika powder is loaded with beta-carotene and iron plus other vitamins. It helps you prevent freckles as well as age spots from forming.
The production of the skin-darkening agent melanin is limited, helping to keep your complexion in good shape and free of age spots. After all, age spots are a result of being in the sun for prolonged periods of time.
If you enjoy being outdoors, make sure to use your sunscreen and use Paprika to your advantage. They are mostly attributed to people aged 40 and over, but they can occur in young people that get sunburn frequently or go tanning.
2. Paprika Has Lots of Antioxidants
Carotenoids are the primary source of antioxidants when it comes to Paprika. These are a pigment found in a wide variety of plants and do great things for your body.
Oxidative stress damage may be prevented, for one thing. Second, antioxidants help the body in fighting disease.
Consume a healthy fat like avocado along with your Paprika to take advantage of this benefit, as antioxidants are fat-soluble.
3. Paprika is Loaded with Beta-Carotene
Beta carotene gets converted to Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for us humans and is essential for the good health of your skin. It aids in preventing wrinkles from forming.
Aside from the benefits to your skin, beta carotene is thought to help slow down the deterioration of the mind, which happens with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Information published by researchers in the November 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that men who have been taking beta-carotene supplements for 15 years and over are less prone to cognitive decline.
4. You Can Make A Face Mask
Do you love using face masks to help your skin feel refreshed and rejuvenated? You are in luck. You can make your own face mask using honey and Paprika.
The benefits are numerous: you can get rid of age spots, dullness, blackheads, blemishes, and fine lines/wrinkles. All you have to do is mix one tablespoon of Paprika and two tablespoons of honey.
Then, apply it to the face and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Make sure you are very careful with this, especially if you have sensitive skin. You may wish to apply some to a small part of your skin and see if you experience a negative reaction.
5. Paprika Is Antibacterial
Keeping your skin clean and free of germs is crucial, so you don’t get sick. Skin issues caused by bacteria could be remedied with Paprika.
For instance, some people are affected by acne, so adding a little bit of Paprika to your food could help you clear this up.
6. Paprika Can Help Grow Your Hair
Do you want longer and more beautiful hair? Perhaps you are experiencing hair loss, and you feel upset or a little sad about it. Try adding some paprika to your diet. The spice is rich in iron and helps get oxygen to your hair follicles.