Paprika -What is this?

Answer 1

General Description-
Paprika is a spice which comes from a mild red pepper in the family Capsicum annum. It is a brilliant red powder and often used as a garnish.

Geographical Sources-
The peppers used in Paprika are grown in Hungary, Spain, South America, and California.

Traditional Ethnic Uses-
Paprika is the main flavor in Hungarian cooking, including dishes such as Goulash and Chicken Paprikash. In the United States, it is often used as a garnish on stuffed eggs, fish, and cheese and vegetable casseroles. Spanish Paprika flavors shellfish, rice, and sausage dishes. In Morocco, Paprika is used in tomato dishes and salads.

Taste and Aroma-
Paprika ranges from sweet and mild to hot. American Paprika is the blandest, while Hungarian Paprika has the greatest range of flavor.

History/Region of Origin-
Paprika, as a member of the capsicum family, is indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. The pepper is grown widely and takes on a slightly different flavor depending on local soil and climatic conditions.

A Few Ideas to Get You Started-
Paprika is useful as a simple garnish for almost any savory dish. Combine it with butter, margarine, or oil for a quick baste for fish or poultry. This is especially good on roast turkey. Paprika can be mixed with bread crumbs before sprinkling them over casseroles or vegetables..

Answer 2

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word comes from the Hungarian "paprika", which derives from the Serbian and Croatian "paprika", which is a diminutive of "papar", which in turn was derived from the Latin "piper", for "pepper."

In the United States, the term paprika simply means any non pungent red chile, mostly New Mexican pod types that have had their pungency genetically removed. In Europe, however, paprika has much greater depth, having not only distinct pod types but also specific grades of the powders made from these sub types.
Assorted paprika fruits from Mexico
Enlarge
Assorted paprika fruits from Mexico

[edit] Types of paprika
The remainder of this article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page, or replace this tag with a more specific message. This article has been tagged since November 2006.

Paprika is principally used as an ingredient in a broad variety of dishes throughout the world. Paprika (pimentón in Spain, colorau in Portugal) is principally used to season and color rices, stews, and soups, such as goulash. In Spain, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Turkey and Portugal, paprika is also used in the preparation of sausages as an ingredient that is mixed with meats and other spices. Olives are also commonly stuffed with minced portions of these peppers. Instead of eating, paprika may be smoked for additional flavour. In India, paprika comes from a pepper called 'deghi mirchi'. The pepper is grown widely and takes on a slightly different flavor depending on local soil and climatic conditions.

Answer 3

Paprika is a powder made by grinding aromatic sweet red pepper pods. The flavor of paprika can range from mild to pungent and hot, the color from bright orange-red to deep blood-red. Most commercial paprika comes from Spain, South America, California and Hungary, with the Hungarian variety considered by many to be superior.

Answer 4

Nomenclature

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word comes from the Hungarian "paprika", which derives from the Serbian and Croatian "paprika", which is a diminutive of "papar", which in turn was derived from the Latin "piper", for "pepper."

In the United States, the term paprika simply means any non pungent red chile, mostly New Mexican pod types that have had their pungency genetically removed. In Europe, however, paprika has much greater depth, having not only distinct pod types but also specific grades of the powders made from these sub types.

Paprika is principally used as an ingredient in a broad variety of dishes throughout the world. Paprika (pimentón in Spain, colorau in Portugal) is principally used to season and color rices, stews, and soups, such as goulash. In Spain, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Turkey and Portugal, paprika is also used in the preparation of sausages as an ingredient that is mixed with meats and other spices. Olives are also commonly stuffed with minced portions of these peppers. Instead of eating, paprika may be smoked for additional flavour. In India, paprika comes from a pepper called 'deghi mirchi'. The pepper is grown widely and takes on a slightly different flavor depending on local soil and climatic conditions.

[edit] Types of Hungarian Paprikas

Note: The hottest paprikas are not the bright red ones, but rather the palest red and light brown colored ones.

* Special Quality (Különleges): The mildest and brightest red of all Hungarian paprikas, with excellent aroma.
* Delicate (Csípmentes Csemege): Ranging from light to dark red, a mild paprika with a rich flavor.
* Exquisite Delicate (Csemegepaprika): Similar to Delicate, but more pungent.
* Pungent Exquisite Delicae (Csípös Csemege, Pikant): A yet more pungent Delicate.
* Rose (Rózsa): Pale Red in color with strong aroma and mild pungency..
* Noble Sweet (Édesnemes): The most commonly exported paprika; bright red and slightly pungent.
* Half-Sweet (Félédes): A blend of mild and pungent paprikas; medium pungency.
* Hot (Erös): Light brown in color, this is the hottest of all the paprikas.

[edit] Nutritional value

All varieties of capsicum including the bell peppers used to make paprika have a high vitamin C content (150–250 mg/100 g). In 1932, the Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi, using Vitamin C from a red pepper, proved that scurvy was caused by Vitamin C deficiency.

Answer 5

Paprika is a cooking mild red spice made from various sweet red peppers.

Answer 6

Ground red powder of paprika peppers; available sweet, mild and hot. It is an important ingredient in Hungarian goulash and deviled eggs.

Answer 7

a capsicum originating in the New World--is today commonly found in powdered form, made by grinding dried, aromatic, sweet red peppers, usually the Tomato pepper. Most commercial brands come from Spain, South America, California, and Hungary.

Answer 8

Its a spice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paprika

-dh

Answer 9

It is a red spice. You may have noticed it most commonly on Deviled Eggs. Hope that helps if not here is a site.

Answer 10

A mild powdered seasoning made from sweet red peppers.