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Paprika can be substituted with tomato, cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce. Adding a pinch of salt or sugar can reduce spiciness, while tomato sauce can add color and flavor.
Paprika is a popular cooking spice made from dried peppers and chilies that have been ground into a fine powder suitable for cooking. If the spice is called for in a recipe but you don’t have any available, using a substitution for paprika can be accomplished quite easily, depending on the other ingredients you have. Popular substitutions for this spice include tomato, for color and taste, as well as cayenne pepper or fresh chili. Powdered versions of these items can also be used in place of paprika; using less than required or adding a pinch of salt or sugar can reduce the spiciness of the peppers.
This spice is found in savory and sometimes spicy dishes, those that are filled with a vibrant red color from the tomatoes or the spice itself. Since paprika is made from dried, powdered peppers, it’s no surprise that the best substitutions include cayenne or chili powders. Hot sauce is commonly used as a substitute for paprika, as it is also commonly made from cayenne peppers, chili peppers, or bell peppers. Using a little of this seasoning can go a long way in giving a slightly spicy flavor to any dish, as well as a bright red color that paprika would normally bring.
Using these peppers directly can often lead to a hotter than expected dish, making it necessary to reduce the amount of spices used. Salt can also be added to mask the spiciness that the substitutions can lend to the dish, as can a broth or heavy cream. When using cayenne pepper or chili powders as a substitute for paprika, a little sweetener might also dampen the spice’s hotter effects. Paprika is mildly spiced, but not as much as cayenne, so adding a half teaspoon (about 2.5 grams or mL) of sugar or honey to a dish can reduce the spiciness.
Another great substitution for paprika is fresh tomato or tomato sauce, as it lends its color and fresh flavor to any dish. Adding a couple dashes of chili powder or cayenne pepper can also help give the tomato more flavor. This, in turn, will help the tomato resemble paprika a bit due to the complexity of the fruits, both fresh and dried, working together. After all, paprika is the combination of several fruits from the same family that work together to create a unique taste in every dish.
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