Paprika’s colour and flavour reduce the longer it’s cooked. So add it at the end of your cooking to make sure you make the most of its wonderful shade and taste. Compared to other spices, you can use paprika quite liberally without overpowering other ingredients, so don’t be afraid to be generous. Paprika burns quite easily due to its high sugar content, so it’s best cooked with a little oil over a low heat and don’t forget to keep stirring.

What's a Good Paprika Substitute?

It’s thought that paprika was introduced to Hungary sometime before 1550 and was first adopted by shepherds and fishermen, who found paprika to be a welcome, and spicy, addition to their more humble foods. The plants, with their pretty white flowers and vibrant red pods, were at first used decoratively in more aristocratic circles but by 1569 were being written about in reference to edible agriculture. 

In summary, the main differences between paprika extract and paprika oleoresin lie in their production methods, composition, and applications. While both are derived from paprika and used for their color and flavor properties, paprika oleoresin is a more concentrated extract with a higher content of active compounds, making it suitable for a broader range of applications.