Paprika

A small bowl of smoked Spanish paprika, called pimentón in Spanish

Paprika (US English more commonly ⁱ/pəˈpriːkə/,^[1] British English more commonly ⁱ/ˈpæprɪkə/^[2]) is a ground spice made from red air-dried fruits of the larger and sweeter varieties of the plant Capsicum annuum,^[3] called bell pepper or sweet pepper,^[4][5] sometimes with the addition of more pungent varieties, called chili peppers, and cayenne pepper.^[6][7] In many languages, but not English, the word paprika also refers to the plant and the fruit from which the spice is made.

Although paprika is often associated with Hungarian cuisine, the peppers from which it is made are native to the New World and were later introduced to the Old World. Originating in central Mexico, paprika was brought to Spain in the 16th century. The seasoning is also used to add color to many types of dishes.

The trade in paprika expanded from the Iberian Peninsula to Africa and Asia,^[8]:8 and ultimately reached Central Europe through the Balkans, then under Ottoman rule, which explains the Hungarian origin of the English term. In Spanish, paprika has been known as pimentón since the 16th century, when it became a typical ingredient of western Extremadura.^{[8]:5, 73} Despite its presence in Central Europe since the beginning of Ottoman conquests, it did not become popular in Hungary until the late 19th century.^[9]

Paprika can range from mild to hot – the flavor also varies from country to country – but almost all plants grown produce the sweet variety.^[10] Sweet paprika is mostly composed of the pericarp, with more than half of the seeds removed, whereas hot paprika contains some seeds, stalks, placentas, and calyces.^{[8]:5, 73} The red, orange or yellow color of paprika is due to its content of carotenoids.^[11]

History and etymology

The various shapes and colors of the Capsicum fruit used to prepare paprika

The plant used to make the Hungarian version of the spice was grown in 1529 by the Turks at Buda^[12] (now part of Budapest, the capital of Hungary). Central European paprika was hot until the 1920s, when a Szeged breeder found a plant that produced sweet fruit, which he grafted onto other plants.^[10]

The first recorded use of the word paprika in English is from 1896,^[12] although an earlier reference to Turkish paprika was published in 1831.^[13] The word derives from the Hungarian word paprika, a diminutive of the Serbo-Croatian word papar meaning "pepper",^[14] which in turn came from the Latin piper or modern Greek piperi.^[12] Paprika and similar words, peperke, piperke, and paparka, are used in various Slavic languages in the Balkans for bell peppers.^{[8]:5, 73} The exact word "paprika" entered a large number of languages, probably via German.^[15] European languages use a similar if not identical word: Slovak, Italian, Polish, Bulgarian, Hebrew, and Japanese all use a variant of paprika.^[15]

Production and varieties

Red peppers in Cachi, Argentina are air-dried before being processed into powder

Paprika pepper farmer in Tanzania

Paprika is produced in various places including Hungary, Serbia, Spain, the Netherlands, China, and some regions of the United States.^[16][17]

Hungary is a major source of commonly-used paprika.^[17] It is available in different grades:

• Noble sweet (Édesnemes) – slightly pungent (the most commonly exported paprika; bright red)
• Special quality (különleges) – the mildest (very sweet with a deep bright red color)
• Delicate (csípősmentes csemege) – a mild paprika with a rich flavor (color from light to dark red)
• Exquisite delicate (csemegepaprika) – similar to delicate, but more pungent
• Pungent exquisite delicate (csípős csemege, pikáns) – an even more pungent version of delicate
• Rose (rózsa) – with a strong aroma and mild pungency (pale red in color)
• Half-sweet (félédes) – a blend of mild and pungent paprikas; medium pungency
• Strong (erős) – the hottest paprika (light brown in color)^[17]
• "The Hungarian varieties are more robust and considered superior. The Spanish varieties are sweeter and milder. Most tables in Hungary are set with salt and hot paprika (not black pepper) shakers. One particular variety, the 'rose', known for its sweet aroma and brilliant color, is prized above all others. Hungarian agricultural authorities fiercely guard their plants and seeds and twice as much acreage is devoted to peppers as any other crop."
• "Due to the favourable climate and geographical conditions, Hungarian paprika has a bright red colour and a distinctive rich flavour that allowed Hungary to become one of the leading paprika producers in the world ... Kalocsa and Szeged in the southern part of Hungary are the heart of paprika production in Hungary. These regions have the highest amount of sunny hours a year and paprika plants need lots of sunshine to get ripe and sweet."

Spanish paprika (pimentón) is available in three versions — mild (pimentón dulce), moderately spicy (pimentón agridulce), and very spicy (pimentón picante). Some Spanish paprika, like pimentón de la Vera, has a distinct smoky flavor and aroma as it is dried by smoking, typically using oak wood.^[18]

The Netherlands is a major production and distribution source of paprika as well, especially grown in greenhouses, while China is the world's biggest exporter of sweet paprika for use as a coloring agent as of 2016.

As of September 15, 2016, McCormick's paprika used peppers grown in the United States, while its "smoked paprika" was imported from Spain.

Usage

Hungarian paprika vendor in the Budapest Great Market Hall

Packaged ground and whole dried paprika for sale at a Belgrade marketplace in Serbia

Culinary

Paprika is used as an ingredient in numerous dishes throughout the world. It is principally used to season and color rices, stews, and soups, such as goulash, and in the preparation of sausages, mixed with meats and other spices. In the United States, paprika is frequently sprinkled raw on foods as a garnish, but the flavor is more effectively pronounced by heating it in oil.

Hungarian paprika is often specified in recipes because it is unique. It is bright red and said to be sweeter than the same paprika grown in other soils and climates. In paprikash (paprika gravy: a combination of broth, paprika, and sour cream), Hungarian paprika is commonly used. In Moroccan cuisine, paprika (tahmira) is usually augmented by the addition of a small amount of olive oil blended into it.

Carotenoids

The red, orange or yellow color of paprika powder derives from its mix of carotenoids.^[11] Yellow-orange paprika colors derive primarily from α-carotene and β-carotene (provitamin A compounds), zeaxanthin, lutein and β-cryptoxanthin, whereas red colors derive from capsanthin and capsorubin.^[11]

Nutrition

In a typical serving size of one teaspoon (2 grams), paprika supplies 6 calories and is rich in vitamin A (21% of the Daily Value), but provides no other nutrients in significant content.^[19]

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paprika powder.

• The dictionary definition of paprika at Wiktionary