Paprika is a condiment that is used in various recipes.
Paprika is a powdered seasoning produced by drying and grinding red peppers (also known as red chilies or red bell peppers). Although there are different types of paprika, it is generally a fairly spicy condiment .
For example: "I'm going to add a little paprika to the stew to make it tastier," "I don't like the meat empanadas here because they have too much paprika," "If you like spicy food, you can't do it at home." missing a jar of paprika .
Before moving forward we are going to determine the etymological origin of the term. In this sense we can say that it derives from Latin, specifically from pigmentum , which was a coloring matter that was used for painting.
It is important to know that the pepper came to the continent from the hands of Christopher Columbus . And it was brought from American lands in the year 1493 .
Types of paprika
Depending on the variety of pepper used, it is possible to distinguish between hot paprika (the one that causes the most sting), sweet paprika (the mildest condiment of this type), sweet and sour paprika and others. In certain preparations, preservatives are added to paprika to maintain its qualities over time .
There are many recipes that use paprika in the cuisine of different countries. Sausages such as chorizo or serrano ham usually have this seasoning. Various stews , soups and pickles also include paprika to highlight their flavors and achieve a more intense color.
Paprika is obtained from red pepper, chili or bell pepper.
Your benefits
In addition to all of the above, it is important to know that paprika has important beneficial properties for the human body. Specifically, these include the following:
- It is very rich in vitamin K.
- It has a high number of nutrients.
- It helps put an end to anemia problems.
- Improves blood circulation.
- Helps reduce the risks of suffering from diseases such as arthritis.
Paprika in different countries
In Hungary , paprika is known as paprika, which is made from peppers grown in its territory. In fact, the most famous dish in Hungarian cuisine has a good amount of paprika: goulash .
In Spain , on the other hand, there are different types of paprika that have a Designation of Origin . La Vera paprika is produced in the province of Cáceres and is characterized by smoking . Murcia paprika , on the other hand, is much sweeter.
The aforementioned paprika from La Vera is, without a doubt, the most important in Spanish territory since it is recognized for its top quality. It has the particularity of having a special flavor and aroma, since the drying of the peppers used to make it is done with oak wood smoke.
Specifically, this product has three different varieties:
- Spicy , which is prepared with the variety of pepper called jeromín.
- Sweet , obtained from jaranda and ball type peppers.
- Bittersweet , which is made from the jariza and jaranda varieties.