12 Paprika Substitutes for Cooking
Have you ever been in the middle of preparing the perfect recipe only to discover you need a paprika substitute? Whether mixed into a marinade, blended into a dry rub or added to a sauce or stew, the best paprika alternatives deliver just the right amount of bold flavor, smoky heat and bright color.
Conveniently, there are quite a few paprika alternatives that can be used if you run out or can't find any at the store. You may even have a few of these substitutes in your kitchen already. From smoked paprika substitutes that add a bold flavor to dishes to more mellow sweet paprika substitutes, our list includes a paprika substitute for every kind of recipe and flavor preference.
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What Is Paprika Used for in Cooking?
An essential ingredient in Spanish and Hungarian cuisine, among many others, paprika is a popular spice due to its versatility in lending sweet, spicy, smoky or savory flavors to recipes. Paprika is a bold orange or red seasoning made from ground red peppers (capsicum annuum). This spice comes in a few forms, including spicy and sweet with all varieties having a smoky taste.
In cooking, paprika is often used to add a bold and smoky flavor to rubs and marinades like jerk chicken marinade. It’s also popular in sauces and stews, such as the sauce for patatas bravas and Hungarian chicken paprikash, and is even used as a garnish. Along with adding a smoky and spicy or sweet hit to recipes, paprika can elevate the visual appeal of a dish, adding a vibrant red or orange shade.
As there are so many ways to use paprika, it’s a great idea to take some online cooking classes or cooking classes near you to discover more about how to cook with the spice. From whipping up a delicious paprika-infused Spanish cauliflower rice to perfecting shakshouka, you can learn how to make paprika dishes from around the globe at a professional chef-led cooking class.
The 12 Best Substitutes for Paprika
1. Cayenne Pepper
Since cayenne pepper is made from the same plant as paprika, capsicum annuum, it makes sense that it would make an excellent paprika substitute. Cayenne pepper delivers the spice of hot paprika, so it’s best to use it as a substitute for hot and sharp paprika recipes.
As cayenne pepper has a stronger flavor than paprika, you’ll want to use about half the amount of paprika a recipe calls for when using this alternative. You can also try adding a pinch of sugar to combat some of the spiciness. Use half a teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of cayenne to replace one teaspoon of paprika, allowing you to get a more spicy and sweet flavor profile in your dish.
2. Ancho Chile Powder
Made from dried poblano peppers, ancho chile powder provides a mild amount of heat and a smoky flavor. You can use it in a variety of dishes that feature a slightly more spicy or smoky flavor profile, such as Mexican recipes or a smoky paella. As the two spices are quite similar, you can use a 1:1 ratio when using chile powder as a paprika substitute.
3. Red Pepper Flakes
Also known as red chile flakes, red pepper flakes are coarse compared to the smooth consistency of paprika, meaning that the texture of your dish may change a little when using this substitute. Additionally, red pepper flakes add a moderate amount of heat to recipes, so this is best used as a substitute for spicier paprikas or in dishes you don’t mind being on the hotter side.
You can use about a quarter of the amount of paprika called for in your recipe when adding red pepper flakes instead. This amount will keep your recipe from becoming too hot. Along with being added to cooked recipes, red pepper flakes work well as a garnishing substitute for paprika.
4. Aleppo Pepper Powder
Aleppo pepper powder falls between paprika and cayenne as far as spice level goes. It is most similar to hot paprika, so it can be used in any of the same recipes as a spicer paprika.
Due to having similar base notes to paprika, it can also be used as an alternative to paprika in sweeter recipes, but it’s a good idea to add a little sugar along with the Aleppo pepper powder. Because it is a bit hotter than paprika, start with half as much Aleppo pepper powder as you would paprika, adding more to taste if needed.
5 Chile Sauce
Chile sauce is a great paprika substitute for cooked dishes, such as stews, tomato sauces, creamy paprika chicken, soups and the like. It’s best to go for a mild chile sauce to match the heat of paprika. Finding one with some smoky and sweet notes is also optimal. To use this sub for paprika, start by using an equal amount as your paprika recipe calls for. Then, add more to taste as needed.
6. Black Peppercorn
If you’re dusting or sprinkling with paprika to add an extra kick to a finished dish, black peppercorn is a good substitute for paprika. This substitute can also be used in cooked dishes, but it won’t add the smoky and sweet flavor paprika is known for. The color of your dish will also be altered.
Black peppercorn adds a bolder dash of flavor than your run-of-the-mill ground black pepper, but if that is all you have on hand, regular ground black pepper can work as a paprika substitute for garnishing. When using this sub for paprika, you can use a 1:1 ratio, but adding to taste is recommended.
7. Chipotle Powder
With bold spice and a strong fragrance, a bit of chipotle powder kicks things up a notch when used as a paprika substitute. It’s perfect to use in marinades, sauces and rubs when you’re craving a fiery flavor. It can also add an elevated flavor profile to classic paprika-based dishes like chicken paprikash or goulash.
If you don’t have any chipotle powder on hand, almost all of the substitutes for chipotle that are available conveniently work as substitutes for paprika. There’s also a good chance that you’ll have a few of these alternatives in your spice rack already.
8. Cumin and Cayenne Pepper Blend
A mix of cumin and ground cayenne pepper makes a terrific paprika substitute. By blending it yourself, you can customize the spice level to your own heat preferences. This alternative to paprika works perfectly in marinades and rubs as well as added to stews.
Once mixed up to your liking, use a 1:1 ratio of cumin and cayenne powder blend to paprika, adjusting to taste as needed. Even if you don’t use it as a paprika substitute, this is a great blend to have on your go-to list of spices!
9. Gochugaru
Gochugaru is a type of Korean red pepper flake made from sun-dried peppers. It features coarsely ground flakes and is well-known for its bold color and moderate amount of spice.
It works best as a substitute for paprika in cooked dishes, such as stews. The heat level of Gochugaru can range from mild to hot, so adding small amounts to taste until you reach the flavor and heat level you’d like is recommended.
10. Guajillo Pepper Powder
Bright in color and spicy yet sweet in flavor, guajillo pepper powder adds tangy flavor to cooked paprika recipes, especially marinades that call for paprika. It’s also an excellent choice as a substitute for paprika in hot and sharp recipes. Conveniently, this alternative to paprika can be used in a 1:1 ratio.
11. Liquid Smoke
If you're looking to replicate the smokiness of paprika via another ingredient, liquid smoke could be the paprika alternative for you. Liquid smoke is a flavoring agent made by turning the smoke from burning wood chips into a liquid. When opting for this substitute for paprika, use about half a teaspoon of liquid smoke for every teaspoon of paprika, adding more to taste if needed.
As this substitute is all about smokiness, you may want to combine it with a chile-based powder and a sweetener to better mimic the full flavor profile of paprika. If you’re having trouble getting a hold of liquid smoke, there are many great substitutes for liquid smoke to turn to which also work well as paprika alternatives.
12. Red Bell Pepper
If all else fails, make paprika yourself! For this paprika substitute, you can use a food dehydrator or an oven to dry out red bell peppers (or any other red sweet pepper). Next, place the dried-out peppers into a food processor and grind them into a powder. Another method is to mince the bell peppers before cooking them down and then adding them to your cooked recipe.
Whether you’re searching for a sweet paprika substitute or a smoked paprika substitute, this guide should have provided you with the perfect alternative. By blending your favorite spices and other ingredients, such as sugar, you may even come up with a new paprika substitute that works perfectly when you don’t have paprika in the pantry.
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