Paprika is a common spice. It is used in cooking for flavor. It makes dishes spicy and flavorful. But it may not be available in many countries. Or you might not have it at the moment to use. That is when you can apply some substitutes of Paprika.
What is Paprika?
Paprika is a ground spice. It is made from dried red fruits called Bell Pepper or Sweet Pepper. Tomato pepper is also used for making Paprika.
Paprika is a bright dark red-colored. The texture of the Paprika is excellent. It is a spicy and flavorful spice. It enhances the flavor of any savory dish.
It has a mild heat. It is about 500-1000 on the Scoville Heat Unit Scale.
Paprika Nutrition Facts
100 grams of paprika contains about:
- Calories- 282
- Total fat- 13 g (20%)
- Saturated fat- 2.1 g (10%)
- Monounsaturated fat- 1.7 g
- Polyunsaturated fat- 8 g
- Sodium- 68 mg (2%)
- Potassium- 2280 mg (65%)
- Total Carbohydrate- 54 g (18%)
- Dietry fiber- 35 g (140%)
- Sugar- 10g
- Protein- 14 g (28%)
- Vitamin A- 985%
- Vitamin B-6- 104%
- Vitamin C- 1%
- Calcium-22%
- Iron- 117%
- Magnesium- 44%
Health Benefits of Paprika
Some health benefits of Paprika are given below:
- It helps in healing wounds.
- It treats skin problems.
- It supports healthy digestion.
- It prevents hair loss.
- It induces sleep.
- It minimizes the risk of a heart attack.
- It has Anti-Inflammation properties.
Top 10 Paprika Substitutes
A lot of savory dishes need Paprika. Paprika makes the dishes spicy and flavorful. But it can be unavailable in your town. Or you may have run out of Paprika. Then you can use substitutes for Paprika. Here are some alternatives of Paprika given below:
- Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper is an excellent substitute for Paprika. It is hot red chili pepper. Cayenne pepper is undoubtedly hotter than Paprika. So, you have to use a lot less. Use half the amount of cayenne pepper instead of Paprika.
- Chili Powder: Chili powder is powdered hot chili pepper. Chili powder is an ideal substitute for Paprika. It is hot like Paprika. So, you can use the same amount of chili pepper as Paprika.
- Cajun Spice: Cajun spice is made from cayenne, black and white peppers. It is a perfect substitute for Paprika. The heat level of cajun seasoning is the same as Paprika. That is why it is an adequate substitute.
- Hot Sauce: Hot sauce is made from chili pepper, vinegar, oil, water, etc. It is considered as an ideal substitute for Paprika. Hot sauce and Paprika have the same heat level. So use the equal amount of hot sauce as Paprika.
- Aleppo Peppers: Aleppo pepper is a middle eastern spice. It is a bright red-colored. But it is not as finely grounded as Paprika. However, Aleppo pepper is slightly hotter than Paprika. So use half the amount of Aleppo pepper as Paprika.
- Black Pepper: Black pepper is a very common spice. It has a unique flavor, which makes any dish more flavorful. It is an effective substitute for Paprika. Also, the heat amount of them is the same. So you can use the same amount of black pepper as Paprika.
- Bell Pepper: Bell pepper is the homemade version of Paprika. This homemade Paprika is more flavorful than most other paprikas found in the market. But these are slightly less hot than Paprika. So double the amount while you use it.
- Chipotle Powder: Chipotle powder is dried ground chipotle chilies. It is an excellent substitute for Paprika with a hot and smoky flavor. It is as hot as Paprika. That is why you can use the same amount of chipotle powder as Paprika.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Red pepper flakes are dried spicy red peppers that are crushed. They are not as fine as Paprika. But they have the same kind of spicy, smoky flavor like Paprika. So they work as a perfect substitute. Red pepper flakes are hotter than Paprika. So use carefully.
- Gochugaru: Gochugaru is a ground mixture of red pepper flakes found in Korean cooking. It is made from sun-dried chili peppers and has a smoky flavor to it. It is hot like cayenne pepper. So use half the amount of Gochugaru instead of Paprika.
Conclusion
Paprika is a common spice that is very spicy and flavorful. There are a lot of substitutes for Paprika. You can use the alternatives when you don’t have Paprika. The replacement you wish to use will depend on the recipe. However, be careful about the amount you use.
People also ask questions:
1. What is a substitute for Paprika?
Ans. Chili powder is an excellent substitute for Paprika. But cayenne pepper, cajun spice, hot sauce, Gochugaru, etc. can also be used.
2. What can I substitute for paprika powder when cooking?
Ans. What substitute you should use depend on the recipe. However, chili pepper is a great substitute.
3. What is paprika powder?
Ans. Paprika is a ground spice made from dried Bell Pepper or Sweet Pepper.
