To give your paprika a smoky twist, you’ll need to smoke the peppers before drying them. Start by setting up your smoker and choosing a flavorful wood, like hickory or oak chips. Spread your sweet or hot paprika in a thin layer on a heat-safe dish or tray. Pop it into the smoker, making sure it’s at a safe distance from the heat source.

This paprika doesn't really have a distinct flavor like smoked paprika and sweet paprika. After all, its main purpose is to add spiciness to your recipes.

Our gold standard for study? Lee Kum Kee’s version (if you’re just too lazy to read on, you can buy a jar here). A close study of various ingredients—some more chemical than others—brought me back to a core list of ingredients…

So, how do you replace hot paprika with smoked paprika? You first need to combine your smoked paprika with your chili. Here's the ratio I highly recommend:

Paprika and bell peppers are generally considered safe for consumption and have a low risk of causing allergic reactions. However, individuals with a history of allergies to nightshade vegetables, such as tomatoes and eggplants, may be more susceptible to allergic reactions to paprika and bell peppers.

Capsicum oleoresin, like other oleoresins, is generally considered safe for consumption when used in food and food-related products. It is derived from the Capsicum genus of peppers and is known for its pungent flavor and intense heat. Here are some considerations regarding the safety of capsicum oleoresin:

Now, what if you have regular paprika but don’t have the smoked variant? Can you still use it? The answer is yes! But only if you combine it with cumin and cayenne. On its own, regular or plain paprika doesn’t have the flavor that its smoked version is known for. Mixing it with cumin will bring a rich and earthy flavor, while cayenne adds heat and smokiness. With all three, you can create something close to smoked paprika.