I’m looking to use paprika extract to flavour a dish, however upon googling it there really is no mention of this extract being used in this context. From what I can see its use is mainly to colour food and for chicken feed (to give their yolk an intense colour).
If I bought paprika extract would it contribute an intense paprika flavour to my dish like say an essential oil would?
Best Answer
There are two types of paprika extracts; one, as you mention, is mainly a food colour. I understand this is made from raw, unsmoked paprika. It has no real flavour.
The other is mostly a smoke flavour. I believe it's taken from the smoked paprika leftovers, not from the raw paprika.
Neither is any good for simulating the colour, texture, and taste of paprika.
There are also many types of paprika, each having a different level of spice, colour, oil, and smoke. It is just a question of taste and culture to which one you like. So getting an extract to match what you think paprika is, is also difficult.