Pile of paprika in wooden bowl

What's The Difference Between Paprika And Smoked Paprika?

NEWS

BY MEGAN SHOOP-VOLZ

Paprika on wooden spoon
Paprika ranges in flavor from sweet to smoky to spicy. Knowing when and how to use each type is key to achieving the right flavor profile when preparing different dishes.
Diced bell pepper on cutting board
Regular or "sweet" paprika is made from red bell peppers that have been dried and ground. It doesn't have the smoky or spicy flavor apparent in other types of paprika.
Bowl of soup with meat and potatoes
The drying process intensifies the flavors of the bell peppers, giving regular paprika an earthy, lightly sweet, citrusy flavor. Any dish it's added to turns vividly red.
Spoon of smoked paprika
Smoked paprika has, as the name suggests, a distinctive smoky flavor. It’s also made from sweet red peppers, but they're slow-dried with smoke instead of just air.
Ornate bowl of paprika
The result is a complex and deeply savory seasoning with slow-roasted flavor. Most smoked paprika is sweet, though spicy red peppers can be made into hot smoked paprika.
Pot of jambalaya with fork
Smoked paprika stands out much better in traditional jambalayas and seafood boils than regular paprika, and its aromatic savoriness holds up well to slow cooking methods.