Flavor of the Week: Smoked paprika adds color and mild heat

Smoked paprika is a spice made from pimentón peppers that are dried and smoked before being ground into a deep red powder. It differs from regular Spanish paprika, which is made from pimentóns that are dried but not smoked, and from sweeter Hungarian paprika.

The level of heat can vary depending on the pepper used, but it tends to be pretty mild. Smoked paprika is found on 2% of U.S. menus and has been tried by 41% of the American population.