Smoked Paprika: Daily Uses for This Super Spice

Smoked paprika is slowing emerging from the culinary shadows into the forefront of every day cooking. But to many cooks, it's still an unknown flavor. Smoked paprika (a.k.a Pimenton de la Vera) is a Spanish seasoning made from smoked and ground sweet pimiento peppers. Smoked paprika offers an intense, complex flavor which goes way beyond that of traditional paprika, plus the super spice is rich in antioxidants, contains more vitamin C per ounce than citrus juice and adds a deep reddish color to dishes.

Seven Daily Uses for Smoked Paprika

Create a tasty low calorie snack that is chocked full of antioxidants by sprinkling smoked paprika on freshly popped pop corn and toss to coat each kernel. You won't need to add unhealthy butter or salt to the pop corn.

Give corn on the cob, baked potato or any other veggies a boost of flavor and color by sprinkling on smoked paprika.

Create a crispy crust pork tenderloin that is full of smoky flavor by adding smoked paprika to taste to one-fourth cup of mayonnaise, then rub the smoky mayonnaise on the outside of the pork tenderloin. Roll the tenderloin in bread crumbs and bake until done.

Make a little extra smoky mayonnaise to use as a sandwich spread and spice up an ordinary pork or beef sandwich.

Mix smoked paprika with olive oil and coat chicken before roasting. Mix extra smoky paprika olive oil for dipping bread into or melt butter and mix in smoked paprika to create a bread dip.

Add a rich, smoky flavor to bottled barbeque sauces and vinaigrettes by whisking in just the right amount of smoked paprika to suit your taste.

Smoky Red Pepper Sauce Recipe

The smoked paprika flavor and red color makes this sauce a welcomed addition to any meat plate, add it's easy to make.

Drain and rinse a 7 ounces jar of roasted red bell peppers, then place in a blender. Add to the blender one tablespoon red wine vinegar, one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, one clove of garlic and ¼ teaspoon of smoke paprika. Puree until smooth. Pour into small sauce pan and heat through on medium heat. Recipe makes approximately one cup of smoky red pepper sauce that pairs especially well with pork or lamb dishes.

Smoked paprika comes in both hot and sweet varieties and is easy to find on your grocer's spice shelf in the McCormick's Gourmet Collection.

Source: Smoked Spanish Paprika