Exploring the Spice Spectrum: Is Paprika Spicy?

How do you turn a simple meal into a mouth-watering masterpiece?

In most cases, adding spices to your food always does the trick!

Some will say, “add some pepper to ignite the taste buds.” Others will turn to cayenne and chipotle to spice up their dishes. But have you tried Paprika?

Paprika is a spice made from dried red peppers in the Capsicum annuum family. The term may also refer to the plant and fruit from which the sauce is made. Pimenton is the Spanish word for paprika.

The spice originated in Central Mexico and was discovered by Christopher Colombus, who later introduced it to Europe. It was introduced to Hungary in the 16th century and now symbolizes Hungarian cuisine. In fact, the term paprika came from the Hungarians. The major producers of Paprika today are South America, Hungary, Spain, California, India, and the Mediterranean.

Is Paprika Spicy?

Paprika can be spicy, but it can also be mild or sweet, depending on the type and variety used. For example, some varieties of paprika are made from sweet or mild peppers, while others are made from hotter chilli peppers.

Different Types of Paprika

The iconic bright red powder is the simplest form of paprika made from ground sweet pepper pods. However, the color ranges from bright red to deep blood red, depending on the variety of paprika. Also, it may be sweet, mild, bitter, or hot, depending on the type. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the different varieties of paprika. This way, you buy the right variety for your dishes.

Here are the 3 different types of paprika. 

Sweet paprika

If you want to add vibrant color to your dishes without feeling the heat of hot pepper, this is the right paprika to purchase. 

Sweet paprika has no heat and only has a sweet pepper flavor. The sweet flavor is meant to calm down the heat. You can sprinkle sweet paprika as garnish over potato salad or deviled eggs. 

Smoked paprika

This paprika is made from smoked and dried pepper producing a rich, smoky flavor. Smoked paprika is often known as smoked Spanish “paprika or pimentón It spices up your dishes and also adds color and fragrance. You can make smoked paprika from ingredients such as chipotle, bell pepper, cayenne, red peppers, and poblano. Regardless of the peppers used, you must roast them slowly over an oak fire to be called smoked paprika. The smoked variety comes in mild, medium-hot, and hot. 

Hot paprika

If you want to taste the real Hungarian variety of paprika, go for hot paprika. Typically, hot paprika is the most superior among the three. The spice is commonly and widely used in popular classic Hungarian dishes like Goulash. Hot paprika adds a spicy kick to any dish. 

Understanding the heat levels of paprika

Paprika should have varying spicy levels considering the different varieties. So, let’s see how hot each variety is and the best choice for your dishes. 

How hot is sweet paprika?

Sweet paprika has a sweet and unique peppery flavor without any heat. This paprika variety is mostly what you find in supermarkets and grocery stores.  Since it’s not hot or spicy, you can use sweet paprika for almost any dish or stew. The variety brings brilliant color to your dish.

How hot is Spanish paprika?

The Spanish paprika comes in various heat levels depending on the ingredients and the variety. However, you can usually find it in a mild form (dulce), medium (agridulce), and hot (picante). Your choice will depend on your heat experience. The hottest variety of smoked or Spanish paprika can go as high as 2900 SHU on the Scoville scale.

How hot is Hungarian paprika?

Paprika is a staple of Hungarian cuisine. Also, it’s challenging to understand Hot paprika because it comes in different varieties. The Hungarian hot paprika ranges to near cayenne pepper heat levels. Moreover, it can be about four times hotter than a jalapeno. Outside Hungary, you’ll find just one version – the Hungarian sweet paprika—it has a mild pungency.

Which Paprika should you choose?

 If you’re new to spices, finding an ideal paprika type to use in your cooking might be challenging. However, your choice should depend on your needs, recipe, and heat tolerance. Hungarian sweet paprika and general paprika are all-purpose and will primarily work with almost all your dishes.

If you like your spices on the hotter side, you might go for a more pungent paprika variety. Regardless of your recipe, needs, and heat tolerance, you’ll find a choice that satisfies your needs.

Is Paprika that Spicy?

Paprika is a common spice used in Hungarian and Spanish cuisines. The spicy level of these seasonings varies depending on the variety. Generally, there are three types of paprika: sweet, hot, and smoked.

However, there are other subcategories of paprika made from different ingredients.  Your choice will depend on the recipe, your needs, and your heat tolerance.

FAQs on Paprika?