Paprika is an ethnic powder made by dry and grinding red peppers (Piper nigrum). It is one of the most commonly used spices both for their culinary and medicinal value. Paprika can be prepared in many different ways: as a spice, for seasoning food, for medical purposes, for health benefits etc. The traditional method of preparing paprika is to boil it in water for several minutes until it releases its fragrance, and then use the resulting liquid as cooking agent in food.
Paprika is derived from a Latin word meaning “to grind”. Paprika is still widely used today in eastern and central Europe and especially the former Yugoslavia, where it is extensively used both as a seasoning and for health benefits. Paprika is well-known for its antiseptic properties, its mineral contents (especially iron, sulphur and manganese), and its protein content (especially Vitamin K). Paprika is mainly used as a seasoning for meats (particularly beef and pork), as well as for fish and chips.
Although the exact source of paprika is not clear, it is believed to come from a North Germanic region known as Lower Saxony. However, scientific investigation has not revealed any conclusive proof concerning this claim. Apart from the famous peppers and onions, paprika is used in a whole range of cooking dishes and is a staple ingredient in many recipes. It is usually available in two forms: in dry powder form and as a thickening agent in dried form. You can either use dried or fresh paprika for your recipes.
In addition to the above-mentioned peppers and onions, paprika is used in many savory dishes, such as chilli con carne, chilli pepper and chilli con hot pepper sauce. It goes well with sausages, beef, chicken, vegetables, and fish. It also adds that special touch to tomato based dishes. Cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, and onion are sometimes included in the recipe. In fact, this versatile seasoning is so useful in many cooking recipes, that you can very rarely try out a dish that does not include it.
Over a period of time, paprika lost its savory flavor and was replaced by other spices made from the same dried capsicum annum plant. However, the taste of paprika remained and now it is even used in preparing Indian, Chinese and Italian meals. You can buy this spice from any good spice store. Today, it can be easily found on sale at supermarkets, health food stores, meat markets and online stores.
The dried form of paprika is not as good as the fresh kind. The reason being that the vitamins and minerals are lost in the process of drying. Therefore, before buying dried paprika, make sure that it is certified as having all the nutrients. There are many packets containing different varieties of this spice available in the market. Buy only those that have specified that they contain all the vitamins and minerals.