Composition:

The process of making paprika from bell peppers involves carefully selecting ripe, red peppers, then drying them to remove the moisture content. Once dried, the peppers are ground into a fine powder, resulting in the characteristic bright red spice known as paprika.

What's a Good Paprika Substitute?

Personal Preference: The Final Say

Crushed Red Pepper:

Q: Can I control the spiciness of crushed red pepper? A: The heat of crushed red pepper can vary, but you can control its spiciness by using more or less in your dishes.

Swap Paprika for Paprika

You'll find that smoked paprika is also available in mild (dulce), semi-hot (agridulce), and hot (picante) varieties, so you can definitely use it as a substitute for hot paprika. Like cayenne pepper powder, it can enhance the flavor and aroma of your dish because of its distinct smoky flavor.

While hot sauce is all about the heat, chili sauce often presents a balance between spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors. Therefore, hot sauce is typically used when you want to increase the spiciness of a dish without altering its fundamental taste, while chili sauce is used to add a new dimension of flavor.

If you are using a recipe that calls for powdered chili peppers of this kind, you can usually use cayenne pepper substitute without significantly changing the taste of the dish.