I get comments about my calling out of specific sorts of spices and whether or not that's required.
My stock answer is, "You may use whatever spice choices as you'll desire. But if you would like to enjoy and savor the subtle flavors in these recipes, I suggest you seek out and use the precise spices I call out."
I use spices from different regions strictly due to the nuances that the spice brings to the food.
For example, you'll buy the generic "Oregano" in your local grocery and for many meals, that's quite sufficient.
However, there's a subtle difference between Mexican Oregano, Mediterranean Oregano, and store-bought generic "Oregano."
Store-bought Oregano is ok for many dishes. While it is a generic, consisting of blends of oreganos from various areas, Its taste isn't consistent from batch to batch, and therefore the base flavor depends on which batch was prepared where.
I prefer Mexican Oregano for all of my Mexican dishes. Mexican Oregano features a stronger, more robust flavor, with a touch of earthiness that it adds to the food.
However, Mexican Oregano tends to overpower subtle dishes, as you'll find in Mediterranean cooking.
I use Mediterranean Oregano once I prepare recipes originating within the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Oregano features a subtle flavor that enhances those dishes but doesn't overpower them.
Similarly, you'll use general, all-purpose paprika in your cooking. I, however, prefer the nuances of Hungarian paprikas over either the generic paprikas or the Spanish paprikas.
Don't get me wrong: Spanish paprikas, being less intense that Hungarian paprikas are desirable in Spanish cooking like Paella, but in goulashes or paprikash, I prefer Hungarian paprikas.
And just to confuse you more, there is a taste difference counting on just exactly where the paprika was grown. In Hungary, there are two major paprika producing regions: Szeged and Kaloscai. The Szeged region produces paprika that owes its popularity to the region's intense marketing efforts. The Kalocsai sorts of paprika, I find, are more nuanced in flavors. you will see the Szeged variety on store shelves more often than you will see the Kalocsai variety, but I assure you, for my taste, I prefer the Kalocsai variety.
In another vein, there are two varieties or preparations of paprika: plain and smoked. I do not, personally, just like the taste of smoked paprikas, so I tend to stay with the plain varieties.
One word of caution: when buying Hungarian paprikas over the web, please do not buy tons on your first purchase. I've found wild variations in flavors, even between paprikas labeled "Kalocsai". As a consequence, I only affect a little, select group of wholesalers, ones that I've tried which produce a uniform product that matches both my taste buds and my budget.
I'm fortunate to possess an area importer only a couple of miles from my house, so I drive over there, sample his wares, and choose what tastes best on my behalf of me.
Sweet Hungarian paprika (Édes-nemes) features a subtle mild, sweet and slightly bitter taste. you'll use quite a lot of it before it overpowers.
Hot Hungarian paprika (Eros), on the opposite hand, are often intensely fiery, and a really bit goes an extended, long way. for instance, you will see that during a particular recipe I'd involve two tablespoons of sweet Hungarian paprika. But you'll also see that I also involve something within the neighborhood of one-eighth teaspoon hot Hungarian paprika. Hot Hungarian paprika is that much stronger.
As a parting word of advice: Store your spices in tightly closed containers in your freezer! The spices will last longer and have a more intense flavor than when those bottles are carelessly stored in some dark cabinet in your kitchen.
The difference is because spices owe their unique flavors to essential oils that slowly evaporate, leaving a tasteless mélange of fabric behind. Placing them within the refrigerator or freezer markedly slows down the boiling-off of these essential oils.
If you would like to possess fun with paprikas, do this recipe:
Paprikás Krumpli
Potato Goulash with Sausages
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Avocado oil
1 lb. Andouille sausage, sliced into coins
1 large yellow onion, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 small russet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ½ inch thick slices
2 cups low sodium beef stock
Directions:
In a 5 qt, Dutch oven over medium heat brings the oil to shimmering.
Add the sausages and stir-cook until browned and slightly crispy.
Remove sausage rounds to a paper towel-lined plate.
Add the onions and stir-cook until translucent.
Add paprika, salt, garlic, and pepper.
Stir-cook a further 2 minutes to thoroughly combine all ingredients.
Add within the potato slices.
Continue to stir cook until the potatoes are well-coated with onions and therefore the seasonings.
Add sausages and beef stock and convey to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender.