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Now, what if you have regular paprika but don’t have the smoked variant? Can you still use it? The answer is yes! But only if you combine it with cumin and cayenne. On its own, regular or plain paprika doesn’t have the flavor that its smoked version is known for. Mixing it with cumin will bring a rich and earthy flavor, while cayenne adds heat and smokiness. With all three, you can create something close to smoked paprika.

Keep the temperature low and steady, around 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius), to avoid cooking the peppers. Let them soak up that smoky goodness for about 3 hours. Once the smokin’ time is up, remove the paprika from the smoker and put it to a dehydrator for the final drying process.

But did you know it requires heat to bring out its spicy flavor? It's why it's best to use it in recipes that require cooking.