That said, I advise you to add the cayenne powder gradually to help you find the right amount that will work best for your taste buds or cooking style. Start with a one-eight teaspoon and adjust accordingly.

Smoked Paprika adds authentic flavor to Spanish-style paellas. It's a key ingredient in Spanish chorizo and dry-cured lomo pork loin. In American cuisine La Vera Smoked Hot Paprika has become a secret ingredient used in pork barbecues, chicken kebabs, and hearty beef and lamb stews. 

Hot sauce has varying flavors from brand to brand, but overall, it is spicy, smoky, citrusy, a little sweet, and sometimes nutty. If you’re looking for a replacement that mimics paprika’s taste rather than color, hot sauce is your next best pick. This works for soups and stews where you can hide its runny consistency. Add one teaspoon of hot sauce for every one teaspoon of paprika in recipes.

Paprika can come in different varieties, and its heat level can vary depending on the type of pepper used to make it. Generally, paprika can be categorized into three main types: sweet, hot, and smoked. Each type offers a different level of spiciness and flavor profile.

How to Make Your Own Paprika

Although red peppers originated in North America, they were brought to Europe in the 1500s, starting in Spain and Portugal, before making their way via the spice trade to North Africa, Central Europe, and even Asia. Today, paprika has established itself as a pantry staple from the Mediterranean to North Africa, Africa, and the Middle East.

Tip: If you’d like to reduce the heat, slit them open and remove the seeds because the seeds have the most heat in them. Mince the chillies or put them in the food processor. However, don’t make it a very fine paste. Keep it chunky for texture.

La Vera Smoked Sweet Paprika