Paprika powder

How to Use Zitava Paprika Powder?

Zitava paprika powder is a spice that everyone should have in their pantry! Indeed, it is essential for refined cuisine while also being a classic for everyday cooking.

Ways to Use Zitava Paprika Powder

Here are some recipe ideas to use Zitava paprika powder in your cooking:

• Traditional Goulash: In a pot, brown the meat and add 1.5 tablespoons of paprika.
• Chicken with Paprika: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of paprika over your chicken.
• Sautéed Shrimp with Paprika: Sauté your shrimp with 1 teaspoon of paprika and pressed garlic.
• Paprika Madeleines: Add 1.5 teaspoons of paprika to your batter.
• Lamb Curry: When your lamb pieces start to brown, add 1 teaspoon of paprika and mix.
• Chermoula Sauce: Add ½ teaspoon of paprika with the rest of the ingredients and mix.

The Aromas of Paprika

Its moderately spicy, iodine-rich, and strongly smoked notes give it exceptional character and spicy flavors. The powerful aromatic intensity of this paprika delivers a fruity and intense ensemble with notes of cooked cherries and burnt herbs. In the mouth, one is surprised by its flavors of caramelized meats and its slightly sweet attack.

Slovakian Paprika

How Does Paprika Grow?

Zitava Terre Exotique paprika comes from the Zitava region in Slovakia. The botanical name of this small pepper is Capsicum annuum, and it belongs to the Solanaceae family. The word "paprika" is derived from the Serbian "paprena," meaning "spicy."

Paprika is originally a dried pepper that is then ground into powder. Also known as sweet pepper, paprika originates from Colombia and the southern United States. Imported to Europe after the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, it was first introduced in Spain and then became popular throughout Europe, eventually reaching Hungary, where it became the national spice.

Paprika has been traditionally cultivated for over 100 years in Slovakia. Originally, production was centralized around the Zitava River, hence the name of this paprika. Gradually, the crops expanded throughout the region, the Danubian lowlands, making it the northernmost paprika production region in Europe. In 2014, Zitava paprika became the first Slovakian food product to obtain a PDO, which is a source of pride for the producers.

Although the majority of European paprika comes from Hungary, we were seduced by the story of this Zitava paprika and its intense aroma.

The History of Paprika

Paprika was cultivated in South America from 7000 BC. The Mayans and the Aztecs used it as a spice, as well as for medicinal purposes or even as a means of exchange.

At the beginning of Spanish colonization, it was gradually introduced to Europe, where it was highly appreciated. Paprika then found its place in Hungary, where it was named "paprika," and it is now the emblematic spice of Hungarian cuisine.