I have an addiction. Lately all I eat, sleep, see and breathe is paprika. Not the rusty colored stuff you typically find sprinkled on deviled eggs. True, pure, bright red, Hungarian paprika. It’s all about the color, smell and most importantly the taste and it deserves much more attention than just a sprinkle. It’s everywhere in Hungary and frankly I find it a little sexy. Within seconds, a brown, drab, broth can be ignited to another flavor palate and color palette.
You may have seen Hungarian paprika at your local grocer in the bright red tin, but glossed right over it with no reason or know how to use it. And good for you because spices are not good when left alone, they will lose their freshness and power in the kitchen. Aside from deviled eggs, when do you hear of using paprika? Not very often. I’ve seen some recipes and pictures of paprikash on the internet and I love that people outside of Hungary are trying these dishes, but most are missing something. They are missing the color. The essence if you will. Don’t be afraid of paprika, just let it fall into that pot, a lot of it, and watch as your food transforms before you. You may think it is only a red food coloring, but it is so much more. It will change the flavor. It will change the heat level. It will change the structure. It will change your life (that may be a bold statement). You never know, it changed mine.
Don’t worry about trying to conquer the use of paprika on your own. Let me do it for you, when I open my restaurant. That’s the point right? Wanting to try new flavors and cuisines without having to research and do the work yourself? I got you. Not yet, but I will. You keep sprinkling eggs and I’ll bust out some amazing, red, Hungarian dishes. So good, your taste buds may need a room. Oh, how that would bring me so much joy.
Every day as I cook, I drop spoonful after spoonful of paprika into pots and pans and with the tip of each one I get closer to my dream. I’ve had a lot of fun with that red powder lately and I want to share that with you. I hope you can find the beauty in it as I do.
Paprika, it colors me happy.
Not your ordinary chicken broth.
Stuffed cabbage never looked so good.
Have I mentioned the pork here? Even the sausages are red.
Making drab veggies look good since 1898.
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