We love to eat all those continental dishes, garnished with pepper. These colorful veggies form an important part of savory dishes too. But not many know that these tasty veggies pack a punch when it comes to nutrition.
Peppers are used in both whole and powdered forms. When we talk about powdered peppers, paprika deserves a worthy mention. It is basically a spice made from grinding dried bell peppers and chili peppers. Its flavor is pretty mild in comparison to chili and cayenne peppers, which are fiery spices. This is because it has a lower dose of capsaicin, a compound which is responsible for causing the burning sensation. Its color varies from bright orange red to deep red depending on the type of peppers used.
What is Paprika?
Paprika is widely used in Hungarian cuisine, with the finest quality paprika coming from this country. It is mostly used as a garnish and for seasoning. On being heated, it releases its color and flavor and is also used by commercial food and cosmetic manufacturers to add color to their products. In Hungary, six different varieties of paprika are available with flavors ranging from delicate to hot. If you want to impart color to your dish without altering its taste, a small amount of paprika is a great option. All you need to do is stir some paprika in oil before adding it to any dish. Paprika is not just a spice that adds color, but is also rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, providing a variety of health and beauty benefits.
Paprika is also used in Austrian, Spanish, Moroccan, and Indian cuisines. Unlike other spices, Hungarian paprika has a balanced flavor which is warm with a small degree of sweetness. Spanish paprika is comparatively milder and is classified into three varieties- ‘dulce’ (sweet and mild variety), ‘agridulce’ (bittersweet variety) and ‘picante’ (hot variety). This spice is available all year round in your local grocery stores and it pairs well with rice, chicken, fish, eggs, pasta, cottage cheese, potatoes, and cauliflower. While purchasing paprika, it is advisable to go for organic spice to obtain all its potent nutrients.
Skin Benefits of Paprika (Degi Mirch):
Paprika not only enhances the health of your body but also improves the appearance of your skin. The rich array of health benefiting vitamins and antioxidants make it beneficial for your skin in the following ways:
1. Lightens Complexion:
Paprika is packed with vitamins, iron, and beta-carotene, which prevent the occurrence of freckles and age spots. They improve your complexion by restricting the production of melanin, which is responsible for making your skin darker.
2. Anti-ageing Benefits:
As already mentioned, paprika is rich in beta-carotene, which gets converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in the maintenance of healthy skin. It prevents the occurrence of wrinkles and promotes a bright complexion.
You can prepare a facial mask by combining a tablespoon of paprika with two tablespoons of honey. Apply it all over your face in an even layer and leave for 20 minutes. This will even out your skin tone as well as reduce fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin, and dullness. It can also treat blemishes and blackheads, making your skin soft and glowing. However, it is advisable to do a patch test before using it topically to ensure that you do not develop allergic reactions
We love to eat all those continental dishes, garnished with pepper. These colorful veggies form an important part of savory dishes too. But not many know that these tasty veggies pack a punch when it comes to nutrition.
Peppers are used in both whole and powdered forms. When we talk about powdered peppers, paprika deserves a worthy mention. It is basically a spice made from grinding dried bell peppers and chili peppers. Its flavor is pretty mild in comparison to chili and cayenne peppers, which are fiery spices. This is because it has a lower dose of capsaicin, a compound which is responsible for causing the burning sensation. Its color varies from bright orange red to deep red depending on the type of peppers used.
What is Paprika?
Paprika is widely used in Hungarian cuisine, with the finest quality paprika coming from this country. It is mostly used as a garnish and for seasoning. On being heated, it releases its color and flavor and is also used by commercial food and cosmetic manufacturers to add color to their products. In Hungary, six different varieties of paprika are available with flavors ranging from delicate to hot. If you want to impart color to your dish without altering its taste, a small amount of paprika is a great option. All you need to do is stir some paprika in oil before adding it to any dish. Paprika is not just a spice that adds color, but is also rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, providing a variety of health and beauty benefits.
Paprika is also used in Austrian, Spanish, Moroccan, and Indian cuisines. Unlike other spices, Hungarian paprika has a balanced flavor which is warm with a small degree of sweetness. Spanish paprika is comparatively milder and is classified into three varieties- ‘dulce’ (sweet and mild variety), ‘agridulce’ (bittersweet variety) and ‘picante’ (hot variety). This spice is available all year round in your local grocery stores and it pairs well with rice, chicken, fish, eggs, pasta, cottage cheese, potatoes, and cauliflower. While purchasing paprika, it is advisable to go for organic spice to obtain all its potent nutrients.
Skin Benefits of Paprika (Degi Mirch):
Paprika not only enhances the health of your body but also improves the appearance of your skin. The rich array of health benefiting vitamins and antioxidants make it beneficial for your skin in the following ways:
1. Lightens Complexion:
Paprika is packed with vitamins, iron, and beta-carotene, which prevent the occurrence of freckles and age spots. They improve your complexion by restricting the production of melanin, which is responsible for making your skin darker.
2. Anti-ageing Benefits:
As already mentioned, paprika is rich in beta-carotene, which gets converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in the maintenance of healthy skin. It prevents the occurrence of wrinkles and promotes a bright complexion.
You can prepare a facial mask by combining a tablespoon of paprika with two tablespoons of honey. Apply it all over your face in an even layer and leave for 20 minutes. This will even out your skin tone as well as reduce fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin, and dullness. It can also treat blemishes and blackheads, making your skin soft and glowing. However, it is advisable to do a patch test before using it topically to ensure that you do not develop allergic reactions