Food is all about spices. It is all about what you are adding to make a fantastic dish. The dish cannot come out as per your expectations if any of the necessary ingredients are missing like smoked paprika. If you cannot finish your meal because you don’t have smoked paprika, you can always go for a substitute for smoked paprika. And if you don’t know what a substitute for smoked paprika is, here is this blog to help you know about them. This blog will tell you about all the other ingredients you can always go for in the absence of Pimenton. But first, let us know what Pimenton is?
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What is Smoked Paprika?
Smoked Paprika or Pimenton or Spanish Paprika is a spice added to food to enhance its flavor. It is a spice made from mild Capsicum peppers. These peppers are first smoked and then dried. Once the peppers are dry, they are ground to be converted into a fine powdered form.
As you are going to add it to your dish, it will give your recipe a vibrant red color. It will offer your food a fruity and smoky flavor. Usually, it is a spice that is added to the Spanish cuisines. So, if you are planning to prepare a Spanish dish, you will probably need it and so, keep it stocked.
What is a substitute for smoked paprika?
If you are running out of time and have just realized that you don’t have Spanish paprika, you don’t have to worry. You just need to stay calm and look out these substitutes you can go for to finish your dish. These are the ingredients that will not let your plate be flop even if you don’t have paprika.
- Other Paprika– If you don’t have Spanish paprika, you can always go for hot paprika, sweet paprika, and Hungarian paprika. These will give your dish a lovely color. Even though it won’t be as smoky as paprika, it will not disappoint you. And if you are using hot paprika, it will also give you chili flavor, so add accordingly.
- Liquid Smoke– You can also go for liquid smoke when you are short of or with no paprika. Though it will not give any color to your dish, it will give the smoky flavor you want. Also, you need to keep in mind that liquid smoke has a strong flavor. So, add just a small quantity to get a perfect flavor. Adding extra could affect the taste of the dish. This can be a good substitute for smoked paprika.
- Chipotle Chilli Powder- This one is a spice that is not from Spain but Mexico. The flavor of this spice will be fruitier but will give you a smoky effect as well. With this, you are going to get a deep red color. It will also provide you with chili flavor, so you need to be careful while adding it to your dish. Chipotle chili in adobo sauce can also be used for your convenience.
- Smoked Sea Salt- As you are looking for a smoked paprika substitute, going for smoked sea salt is a good option. It won’t add any color to your dish, but it will offer a subtle, smoky flavor. With this spice, you need to be careful with the quantity of salt you are going to add.
- Tomato Paste or Powder- Adding tomato paste or tomato powder is also a good Pimenton substitute. Though it won’t give you a smoky flavor, it will provide you with the color you want in your dish. And talking about the flavor of the dish, it will give you a tangy flavor. The flavor will depend on the quantity you are adding.
- Other Spices- Other spices that you can add instead of paprika is ground cumin or coriander. Though the flavor is going to be different and not smoky, you are still going to like the dish. They will not add any color to your dish, but they will give your dish a different flavor. And, in case you have blended spice that is having Pimenton, you can go for it as well.
- Sumac- If you are having Sumac in your kitchen, add it to get red paprika-like color in your dish. It won’t give you a smoky flavor. It will provide you with a fresh lemony flavor, which, too, will make the taste of your dish amazing. You just need to be sure about the quantity of the spice to get a perfect flavor and color.
- Aleppo Chilli Powder- Aleppo chili powder is also an excellent smoked paprika replacement. Though it is hard to find because it is mostly available in Syria, if you have it by chance, it can work for you. It will give you the color you want. It will provide you with the flavor you will like. But it will also give you a chili flavor, so add accordingly.
- Cayenne Powder– It is another option you can always go for if you have it at your place. It will give you the right color. It will be spicy, so you need to be very careful with the quantity you add to your dish. If we talk about the flavor of the spice, it will be different, but you will like it.
- Ancho Chilli Powder- Another smoked paprika alternative is Ancho chili powder. It is different from the generic chili powder. It is made with sweet fried chilies. So, apart from giving color to your dish, it will make it spicy as well. It has the same flavor as Pimenton, but it gives an earthy and mild fruity flavor. So, you need to be sure about the quantity.
- Black Pepper- If you are looking for Spanish paprika to add spiciness in your dish, you can go for black pepper instead. Though it won’t give you smoky flavor and red color, it will make it spicy. And, be sure about how much you are adding to your dish. It needs to be perfect to make your efforts successful.
- Hot Sauce– If you have hot sauce or any other spicy sauce made with chili peppers or vinegar, oil, water, and even alcohol, just go for it. It will be the best substitute for Pimenton. It will give you the red color and spiciness you want in your dish. But, it won’t necessarily give you the smoky flavor you wanted. The dish will still be tasty.
- Cajun Spice- So, if you do not have Spanish paprika, another substitute is Cajun spice. It is a spice that is made with cayenne, black and white pepper. Though it is not that spicy, it can still be used as a substitute for smoked paprika. It will give you a slight red color, but it won’t give you a smoky flavor.
If you have any of these at your place, you can go for them. Though they might not give you the smoky flavor, they will give you the color and spiciness you want in your dish. Some of these spices are available in selected regions only. So, go for the ones that are easy to find for you.
What is the difference between paprika and smoked paprika?
If you are confused in differentiating paprika and smoked paprika, here is a simple answer for you. While generic paprika is made with crushed dried chilies, Spanish paprika is made with smoked, dried, and crushed chilies.
Generally, Pimenton is smoked with oak to give it an outdoor-like flavor to make it different from the generic paprika. While you need to be selective with Spanish paprika because of its strong and distinctive flavor, you don’t have to think much before adding regular paprika in any of your dishes. You need to see if your recipe requires a smoky flavor or not and then make your choice for a substitute for smoked paprika.
Some Amazing Smoked Paprika Recipes
If you are looking for some best-smoked paprika recipes, you can go for these suggestions:
- Mexican Sausages
- Smoky Cauliflower Taco Bowls
- Mexican Omelette with Smashed Avo
- Smoky Eggplant & Sausage Bowls
- Smoked Paprika & Rosemary Almonds
- Smoky Roast Mushroom Bowls
- Cheesy Chicken
You will love the taste and flavors of these dishes. And if you don’t have Spanish paprika, you know, you can always substitute for smoked paprika. We have even mentioned some alternatives in the previous section for your reference and convenience. Also, you can find the recipes for these dishes online easily.
Where to buy Spanish paprika or substitutes for smoked paprika?
You can buy Pimenton and any other substitute for smoked paprika online or from the market. While Pimenton will be easily available in all the regions, you may face issues finding some of the substitutes because some of them are available in select areas only. So, while you are going to buy alternatives, you need to know if they exist in your country or not.
If you were stressed because you ran out of Spanish paprika at the time of need and emergency, here is this blog with all the solutions in it. Though with these, you won’t get the exact flavor you wanted, they will not let your dish and efforts to go waste.
You can choose any substitute for smoked paprika according to your dish. You just need to be careful while choosing them because the dish’s taste and flavors need to be close to your expectations. Each of these substitutes will have a flavor of their own, required to meet your hopes. So, be smart while choosing an ingredient for your perfect dish.