Smoked paprika adds such a deep unforgettable flavor, that it can be hard to know what can replace paprika when you’re all out. Luckily, there are many different spices that will give you the same impact in your favorite dish. Our favorite smoky substitutions are:

Chili sauce is really a generic term for any sauce that utilizes chilies, tomato sauce, vinegar (sometimes), sugar, and other spices. The key differentiator from the traditional hot sauce is its thickness. Chili sauce isn’t something you’d sprinkle from a hot sauce dasher bottle. It’s thicker, often more akin to ketchup in flow.

Regular paprika is not necessarily the product of one specific chile but rather, can be a combination of several different peppers that meet the correct heat and color requirements. It usually comes from New Mexico, California, Hungary, or South America.  

In some cases, the paprika is being used primarily to add color to a dish, in which case you could add a small amount of some other red ingredient, which could be anything from a teaspoon of ketchup with a dash of chili powder mix to tomato sauce, finely pureed red peppers, tomato paste, or red beet powder. If you have bell pepper powder, use a 2:1 ratio, as the bell peppers are very sweet and don't have the kick of sweet paprika.

Another popular type of chili powder is made from a single variety of chili pepper, such as ancho, chipotle, or cayenne. Ancho chili powder is made from dried poblano peppers and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a smoky undertone. Chipotle chili powder is made from smoked jalapeno peppers and has a bold, smoky flavor with a medium level of spiciness. Cayenne chili powder is made from ground cayenne peppers and has a fiery, hot flavor that adds a kick to dishes.

Although red peppers originated in North America, they were brought to Europe in the 1500s, starting in Spain and Portugal, before making their way via the spice trade to North Africa, Central Europe, and even Asia. Today, paprika has established itself as a pantry staple from the Mediterranean to North Africa, Africa, and the Middle East.

Curcumin is a bioactive compound found in turmeric, a popular spice commonly used in Indian cuisine. It is known for its vibrant yellow color and distinct earthy flavor, but what many people don't realize is that curcumin is also a potent health supplement with a wide range of benefits.

Hungarian Paprika is often found in casseroles, white cheeses, chili, egg dishes, marinades, rubs, salads, stews and it also goes well with most vegetables, pork and rice dishes.