How to Choose Smoked Paprika for Brunch
A jar of paprika is easy to add to a shopping basket and easy to leave unopened. Start with the recipe you want to cook, then work backward to the label. The goal is a spice with a job, rather than a cupboard full of possibilities.
Match the wording in the recipe
Write down whether the recipe calls for smoked paprika, sweet paprika or hot paprika. Do not silently replace one description with another. If a recipe is unclear, look for the creator’s notes before choosing the product.
For a shared brunch table, decide how much variation you actually want. Following a familiar recipe with the specified ingredient can be a more useful first step than changing the spice and the cooking method at the same time.
Read an actual product label
The Milk Street listing for Las Hermanas Pimentón de la Vera Dulce identifies it as sweet smoked paprika from Spain. It lists dried smoked pepper and sunflower oil, in a 70 gram package. Those details make a better comparison than the color of the tin.
You can view the Las Hermanas sweet smoked paprika listing (paid link). Check the current ingredient information and availability before ordering. This is a product listing to compare, not a tasting recommendation based on our own testing.
Give the jar two uses
Name the first recipe and one later meal before buying. Perhaps the first is a potato recipe that specifically calls for smoked paprika, with the second drawn from your usual weekday cooking. Keep those ideas in a kitchen note so the jar has a purpose after the weekend.
If the only planned use is a garnish for one gathering, compare that small need with the package size and delivered cost. Using an ingredient already in your cupboard may be a better fit for a different recipe.
Keep the original recipe intact
Our shakshuka feature is a route to a credited recipe, not evidence that this particular smoked paprika belongs in it. Follow the original creator’s ingredient directions. For the rest of your shopping list, read our Milk Street brunch pantry guide.
Source: Milk Street’s Las Hermanas product listing, checked October 15, 2026.