What determines the variety of paprika to use in recipes?
Spanish smoked paprika is powerful stuff that can enhance or overpower a dish. How do I judge when, how much, and which type of paprika (Spanish, Hungarian, sweet, hot, smoked, etc.) to use?
Best Answer
If a recipe didn't specify which type of paprika to use (and I've never seen one that didn't) I would default to a 'sweet mild' paprika. Sweet refers to 'not chilli hot' rather than anything to do with sugar. Smoked paprika is a very particular ingredient used in very few cuisines so I wouldn't think of it as just a variant or substitute for the other paprikas.
The other clue about which to use will be in the rest of the recipe. Is it a spanish or basque recipe? Then smoked is likely what they mean. Is it Croatian/Serbian? Then it is sweet mild. Does the recipe include chilli as a spice separately? Then they likely won't be asking you to double up by using hot paprika too, use mild. The quantity the recipe calls for will also be a clue. Smoked & hot paprikas are very strong, so I'd expect to see a pinch or 1/4 teaspoon listed in most cases, whereas mild paprika is often used to add colour as well as flavour so you might see greater quantities used.
Pictures about "What determines the variety of paprika to use in recipes?"
Quick Answer about "What determines the variety of paprika to use in recipes?"
Most paprika comes from Hungary and Spain and is either sweet, hot, or smokey. The type of pepper used, where it comes from, and how it is prepared determines the flavor.Are there different types of paprika?
3 Varieties of Paprika Among the different varieties of paprika, the spice is often divided into three categories\u2014hot paprika, sweet paprika, and smoked paprika\u2014which often vary based on where they're produced.What is the difference between Hungarian paprika and regular paprika?
Regular is sweet and smoked. Hungarian: Special Quality is sweet and very mild, Delicate is mild and rich, Exquisite Delicate is more pungent, Rose is strong with mild punguency and Noble Sweet, the most common export, is very mild and slightly pungent, the least flavorful of all.Can I use regular paprika instead of Hungarian paprika?
Because it does not have a smoky flavor, it's best to not substitute Hungarian-style paprika in Spanish recipes. But if you are using paprika merely as a garnish on dishes, it's fine to use whichever you prefer.Which paprika is best?
If you're thinking of purchasing new paprika, I'd recommend semi-sweet Hungarian, which has a balanced, bittersweet flavor, and hot piment\xf3n for more complex kick. Those two should cover most of your paprika needs.What is Paprika Actually Made Of? | Food Unwrapped
More answers regarding what determines the variety of paprika to use in recipes?
Answer 2
Your own taste determines it. Seriously, the amount and type you use depends on what you are accustomed to. What is overwhelming for one person is underseasoned for the next.
Ideally, the people who write down a recipe will know that and write down which type of paprika to use. But if they didn't, there is nothing you can do but guess, taking your personal taste into account. If there is one type you always use, start with this and change next time if it didn't work. If there isn't, you have to imagine the taste of the dish made with each type of paprika you have, and take the one which will work better. Such imagination is a skill you have to develop from years of cooking and tasting, and is not perfectly exact. But it's still the best you can do. There is no rule for taste.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Eva Elijas, Andrea Piacquadio, Karolina Grabowska, Nicole Michalou