But what if you can’t find these traditional Hungarian peppers? Don’t worry! An excellent alternative that you can easily find in the US is the Sweet Hungarian or Sweet Banana pepper. These elongated peppers share similarities with their Hungarian counterparts and have a mild, slightly sweet flavor. You can usually find them at local grocery stores or farmers’ markets, making them a convenient choice for homemade “Hungarian” paprika.


Mix Up the Peppers
Consultation with Healthcare Professionals: Individuals with specific health conditions or concerns should consult with healthcare professionals, especially if they have known sensitivities to food additives or flavoring agents.
- Paprika extract contains a lower concentration of the active compounds found in paprika, including the pigments and essential oils responsible for its color and flavor. It is often used for its coloring properties and may have a milder flavor profile compared to paprika oleoresin.


Who knew paprika was a spice with so many talents?


Bell Pepper

It’s thought that paprika was introduced to Hungary sometime before 1550 and was first adopted by shepherds and fishermen, who found paprika to be a welcome, and spicy, addition to their more humble foods. The plants, with their pretty white flowers and vibrant red pods, were at first used decoratively in more aristocratic circles but by 1569 were being written about in reference to edible agriculture.
Paprika is a deep, rich red color, while bell peppers come in a variety of colors, including green, red, yellow, and orange. The color of bell peppers depends on their ripeness, with green peppers being less ripe than red, yellow, or orange peppers.
Which Is Right For You?
Guajillo chili powder also has a reddish brown color instead of bright red, so keep this in mind if you're very particular about the resulting color of what you're preparing.
How to take curcumin
Now, let’s say you don’t have any of these ingredients, your last resort would be to use black and white pepper to replicate the peppery and smoky kick that paprika offer. Chili flakes will also do in some recipes that use paprika as a garnish such as deviled eggs and potato salad.
