Sweet paprika is the most common and available type, at least in North American supermarket spice aisles. If a recipe, or a spice bottle, simply says paprika without specifying which kind, it refers to the sweet kind. Sweet paprika has a very mild, sweet flavor and imparts a reddish hue to whatever it's sprinkled on or mixed into.

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So, only use bell pepper powder if the color won't affect the overall quality of your dish.

Now, what if you can’t find bell pepper powder at your local grocery store? It requires short work and it can be daunting at first, but you can make your own powder at home. To start, you have to dehydrate them first and then ground them to powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. To use as a backup, simply double the amount as the recipe suggests.

Paprika is made by grinding dried peppers into a fine powder, while bell pepper powder is made by dehydrating and grinding fresh bell peppers. Paprika is often smoked before it is ground, which gives it a distinctive flavor.

Simmer for Flavor. Pour the chili sauce into a small pot or sauce pan. Heat and simmer for 10 minutes to let the flavors meld and develop. This is an important step. Taste and adjust for salt, honey, and other spices. Add more water for a thinner sauce. It's really meant to be a thicker sauce, and it will thicken up as it cools, but if you prefer a thinner sauce, go for it!