For this backup, start with a small amount and adjust according to the dish’s preference. You may also adjust other seasonings if needed. 

Hot paprika is something you're more likely to come across in an authentic Eastern European, Portuguese, or Spanish recipe. And like all peppers, what constitutes hot is subjective and can also vary from one type of paprika to another. 

Hot Sauce Use Cases

The global demand for crushed chili pepper products is on the rise, as more and more consumers around the world are incorporating spicy flavors into their dishes. Crushed chili pepper factories play a vital role in meeting this demand by producing high-quality chili flakes that are used in a wide range of culinary applications.

The Flavorful World of Crushed Red Pepper

Sweet smoked paprika, also known as pimentón, is a distinctive type of paprika that is smoked over oak wood before being ground. This process imparts a rich, smoky flavor that elevates dishes with its depth and complexity. Sweet smoked paprika is particularly popular in Spanish cuisine, where it is used in dishes like patatas bravas, roasted meats, and stews. Its sweet yet smoky flavor pairs well with grilled vegetables, seafood, and even cheese-based dishes. The unique taste of sweet smoked paprika makes it a favorite among chefs looking to add a sophisticated twist to traditional recipes.

To recreate the spice of hot paprika, the best substitute is another dried chilli, like ground cayenne, aleppo pepper powder, crushed red pepper flakes, red chilli powder, or even a dash of hot sauce. If your recipe calls for smokiness and sweetness, try chipotle chilli powder or ancho pepper powder. Chipotle powder has a smoky taste, but is hotter than paprika with a more earthy flavour, lending itself to barbecue sauces, rubs and chillis. Due to the difference in heat, use a ¼ teaspoon of chipotle powder for every teaspoon of paprika and adjust depending on your taste buds.

If you’re looking to replicate the flavour of sweet paprika add a pinch of sugar or some honey. Adding mild chilli powder or tomato powder works too. Bell peppers are another great substitute for sweet paprika and they come from the same Capsicum annuum family. Mild, sweet and aromatic, bell peppers give the same delicious taste and aroma, while adding a splash of colour too. When buying your bell peppers, make sure they’re nice and ripe.

One of the best substitutes for paprika is cayenne pepper. It’s a spicy chilli pepper, used to flavour many different cuisines and quite similar in colour. It’s a lot stronger and hotter than paprika, so if you’re using it as a substitute in your cooking, make sure you use a lesser quantity. If you have a lower tolerance to spicy food, you can add salt, cream, chopped tomatoes or more liquid (water or broth) to try and dial down the heat.

Like paprika, chilli powder packs a lot of flavour and is another worthy substitute. It’s also not as spicy as cayenne pepper, so you can use the same quantities.  The same goes for cajun spices. A combination of black and white pepper, plus other herbs and spices, it can work as a good substitute for smoked or sweet paprika, offering a similar flavour. But you won’t get the same beautiful red colour – more of an orange, warm hue.

You can also use cumin instead of paprika. But it’s a lot hotter, so go easy on the quantities. Like cajun spices, you won’t achieve the gorgeous red colour of paprika, as cumin has more of a yellowy-brown colouring, but you’ll still get an earthy flavour with hints of bitterness and sweetness.