Hungarian paprika is a specific kind of paprika that originated in Hungry. However, it is now a staple spice used worldwide.
The spice is made using dried sweet peppers ground into a fine powder, resulting in a very bright and vibrant red colour.
Hungarian paprika can be used as a general spice or as a garnish. There are no limitations to the kinds of dishes that could be used. So are there any other ingredients that could match the versatility of Hungarian paprika?
Our 4 Substitutes for Hungarian Paprika
Compared to other kinds of paprika, Hungarian paprika has a much more complex and developed flavour.
There are several types of Hungarian paprika that you can buy in your local supermarket. They all differ slightly in flavour, but Hungarian paprika is a spicy, smoky, and sweet spice at its base.
Here are our top 4 substitutes for Hungarian paprika:
1) Sweet Paprika
Sweet paprika is not the same as sweet Hungarian paprika country to popular belief. But it does come as a close substitute.
The main difference between sweet paprika and Hungarian paprika is that Hungarian paprika is considerably hotter. You will not get as intense a heat kick as Hungarian paprika. However, sweet paprika is made from red chillies, which will still provide some heat.
Sweet paprika is the perfect substitute if you like the sweetness of sweet Hungarian paprika but struggle with the intense heat.
How to Make Sweet Paprika Hotter
If you like Hungarian paprika’s heat, adding some extra warmth to sweet paprika will give it that extra heated kick. You could use a range of chillies or simply extra black pepper.
2) Garlic Powder
The most accessible and cheapest substitute on this list, garlic powder is extremely common and can be found in any local supermarket.
Like Hungarian paprika, garlic powder has an intense flavour. However, instead of being a harsh intensity like that of Hungarian paprika, it is more of a sharp intensity.
As it is made from ground garlic, garlic powder will be a slightly different texture from Hungarian paprika. It will be grainier.
This will not be much problem if you are using it for a seasoned marinade or rub, but it may cause a slight difference in the texture of your sources.
Can You Use Fresh Garlic Instead?
Unless you are using dried garlic, it would not be recommended to use fresh garlic to replace Hungarian paprika. Simply, it will not be as intense a flavour and will be too much of a different texture.
3) Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper has a similar vivid red colour as Hungarian paprika but is more intense in aesthetics and flavour.
The cayenne pepper that is used to make cayenne pepper powder has a much hotter heat than the red chilli used for Hungarian paprika.
When ground into a powder, the cayenne pepper is an identical texture to Hungarian paprika.
This fine powder is very easy to overuse, so be careful with how much you add to your dish; otherwise, the intense heat will overpower the rest of your dish’s flavour.
What To Do When You Use Too Much?
If you do overdo it with the cayenne pepper, then you can add a little bit of sweetness or some water to dilute the heat.
4) Cajun Spice Mix
Many Cajun spice mixes already use Hungarian paprika as the main base ingredient.
However, just as many mixes use other kinds of paprika, so you will have to make sure to check the ingredients to find a brand that mostly uses Hungarian paprika.
Cajun spice mixes are usually used to flavour chicken. But because the herbs and spices included in the mix are basic and well used in many cuisines, cajun spices can be used in a range of dishes.
While cajun spice mixes will still have the heated kick of Hungarian paprika, they will have a milder but just as complex flavour.
Can You Use Cajun Spice Mixes Without Hungarian Paprika?
Though some cajun spice mixes may not use Hungarian paprika, they will use other kinds of paprika to achieve some level of heat.
So you can use any type of cajun spice mix you have to hand. It just may be a little less similar to Hungarian paprika without it in the mix.
Other Substitutes for Hungarian Paprika
If you do not have the above heated spices already in your pantry, here are a few more common seasonings that can be used to substitute Hungarian paprika instead:
- Cloves – Like Hungarian paprika, cloves have a deep favour that is slightly sweet. The richness of cloves is best used in meat dishes.
- Black Pepper – Used in almost every dish as a seasoning alongside salt, black pepper helps to give a sharp flavour to your dish.
Summary
There are plenty of other substitutes that could match the bright red Hungarian paprika colour, but not many can replicate its complex, spicy flavour. Sweet paprika gets the closest but just falls short.