Heat Level: Medium
The spiciness of a chili pepper can vary widely depending on the specific variety of pepper. The heat level of chili peppers is measured on the Scoville scale, which quantifies the amount of capsaicin, the compound responsible for the peppers' heat. Different types of chili peppers have different levels of capsaicin, resulting in a wide range of spiciness.
In some cases, the paprika is being used primarily to add color to a dish, in which case you could add a small amount of some other red ingredient, which could be anything from a teaspoon of ketchup with a dash of chili powder mix to tomato sauce, finely pureed red peppers, tomato paste, or red beet powder. If you have bell pepper powder, use a 2:1 ratio, as the bell peppers are very sweet and don't have the kick of sweet paprika.
Chili sauce is a versatile condiment that can be used both in cooking and as a dipping sauce. It's perfect for stir-fries, marinades, and barbeque sauces, and pairs wonderfully with spring rolls and dumplings.
1 Hot sauce contains more ingredients than sriracha.


To make ancho powder, you’ll need to take the stems out of your bell peppers before popping them into a food dehydrator. Get them to a point where they’re brittle and then put them into a cotton bag before you grind them.
If you don’t have a good dehydrator, you can achieve the same dried peppers by putting them into the oven at around 50ºC.
The great thing about using this method is that the bell pepper powder will be bursting with flavour and so much more fragrant.
If you look at any Hungarian recipe, paprika is sure to feature. Paprika is an essential ingredient in goulash, and chicken paprikash – another popular Hungarian stew made from a creamy paprika sauce. If you’re looking for a winter warmer, try out our Italian chickpea, spinach and rice soup with smoked paprika, or Turkey meatballs served on a rice base of aubergines, smoked paprika and spinach – both delicious. Paprika is also a great addition to Jambalaya, a classic Creole shrimp and sausage dish made with rice, chicken, diced tomatoes and stock, and Moroccan lamb tagine. If you’re looking for an al fresco recipe to enjoy with friends in the summer sunshine, try paella. The vibrant colour of paprika paired with perfectly balanced flavours of sundried tomatoes and rosemary will help re-create the sun-soaked streets of Barcelona in your own back garden. If you’re making a chilli con carne, definitely add some smoked paprika into the mix. It will give your dish a deliciously smokey flavour. Looking for an appetizer to serve before a dinner party? Cheese twists are super simple (taking just 10 minutes to cook). Flavoured with plenty of grated cheese and smoked paprika, they add a wonderfully sweet flavour to the buttery puff pastry.




Overall, paprika and bell peppers have distinct physical characteristics that make them unique. Whether you’re cooking with paprika or bell peppers, it’s important to understand their differences to get the most out of your recipes.
