Let’s spice up this Savory Saturday with a familiar yet often underutilized flavor booster: smoked paprika! This versatile spice, with its deep, smoky aroma and subtle sweetness, adds incredible depth to plant-based dishes.
Why Smoked Paprika?
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- Flavor Profile: Unlike regular paprika, smoked paprika is made from peppers that are dried over wood smoke, giving it a bold, smoky flavor.
- Where to Buy: Look for smoked paprika in the spice aisle of most grocery stores or specialty food shops. If you want the best quality, Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón) is highly recommended!
Tips for Cooking with Smoked Paprika
- Roasted Vegetables: Sprinkle smoked paprika on veggies like sweet potatoes, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts before roasting for a smoky-sweet flavor.
- Soups and Stews: Stir a teaspoon into lentil or bean soups for a rich, hearty taste.
- Homemade Rubs: Combine smoked paprika with garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper for a flavorful rub on roasted chickpeas or tofu.
- Plant-Based BBQ Sauce: Add a dash of smoked paprika to your favorite barbecue sauce recipe for a smoky kick that pairs perfectly with jackfruit or tempeh.
- Breakfast Scrambles: Sprinkle a pinch on your tofu for a warm, smoky flavor that elevates the dish.
🥄 Tiny Recipe: Smoky Paprika Mushrooms
Ingredients:
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- 2 cups mushrooms, sliced (button, cremini, or portobello work great!)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp veggie broth or aquafaba (chickpea liquid)
Instructions:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the veggie broth or aquafaba.
- Toss mushrooms with smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt, then add them to the skillet.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms release their moisture and become tender and smoky.
- Use these smoky mushrooms as a topping for pasta, grain bowls, salads or plant-based burgers.
Smoked paprika is an easy way to add a gourmet touch to everyday dishes. Its rich, smoky flavor is a must-have for your plant-based spice collection.
Give it a try, and let me know how you use it—I’d love to hear your ideas!
Stay flavorful and plant-powered!
Give this recipe a try. and Let me know how it turns out on my Instagram, and feel free to share your photos and feedback!💚
I started out several years ago watching Forks Over Knives, decided to “try out” the plant-based meal plan and had shockingly incredible results. I’ve never turned back. I have lost nearly 50 pounds, and that is just one side effect that me, my family, friends and clients have experienced after making the change.
Having been an incredible cook my entire adult life, I started my own personal chef service, NuYu Nourish, to extend my help to others. I interned under a celebrity chef, became a celebrity chef myself and have been expanding my reach and goals ever since! My plan follows strictly and simply those of Dr. Mcdougall, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn.
