Essential Herbs and Spices for a Healthy Kitchen, Part 3: Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Red Chili Flakes

Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, and Red Chili Flakes are all made from peppers, and they all have health benefits associated with them.

When it comes to adding spice to food, you want to make sure to have cayenne pepper, paprika, and red chili flakes on hand. They all add a kick of flavor and a lot of spice to a meal. Sometimes, a plain meal just needs a pinch of these to take it up a notch.

Cayenne Pepper

Health Benefits

In addition to adding a bit of spice to a meal, cayenne pepper has many health benefits and has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb.

• Allergy Prevention
• Anti-fungal
• Antibacterial
• Blood Clot Prevention
• Detox
• Digestion Health
• Metabolism Booster
• Migraine Pain Relief
• Weight Loss

Cooking with Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a perfect addition to meats, pasta, and vegetables. Just start small because it has a very strong flavor and can add too much spice for some (like me) if you go overboard.

RELATED: Recipes using Cayenne Pepper

Growing Cayenne Pepper

I haven’t grown cayenne peppers in the garden. I have grown bell peppers which are grown in a similar fashion. They thrive in warm, humid, tropical climates with a lot of sun and water. You can start them as seeds or starter plants. Make sure the peppers aren’t exposed to temperatures cooler than 60F.

It takes about 70-80 days for the peppers to grow, and they are ready to harvest when they are about 4-6 inches long and the stems will break easily. Remove the peppers from the plant. Hang them to dry until they are shriveled. It helps to use a small needle and thread to thread the tops of the peppers for them to hang. Once they are dried out, you can store them in an airtight container like this for months. When you need cayenne pepper, just use a grinder to make some into powder.

Purchasing & Storing Tips

Cayenne pepper can be purchased as a powder from the spice aisle at your favorite grocery store. As long as it’s in an airtight container it should last for a long time.

Paprika

Health Benefits

For many years paprika has been used for medicinal purposes. But new discoveries recently prove that it helps with a much larger variety of ailments than originally known. Paprika was discovered in the New World in the 1400s and brought back to Europe, Africa, and Asia where it became extremely popular in Hungary where they are especially known for their goulash with paprika.

• Aids in Autoimmune Conditions
• Anemia Fighter
• Anti-Inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Blood Pressure Reduction
• Blood Sugar Reduction
• Cancer-Fighter
• Eye Health

Cooking with Paprika

Paprika is made from ground red-colored peppers such as bell pepper, chili pepper, and cayenne peppers. Many cultures use paprika in a large variety of ways. In the US it’s commonly used on deviled eggs and in bbq recipes, ketchup, meats, potato salad, and similar dishes. Mexican cuisines use it for sauces and salsas.

RELATED: Recipes using Paprika

Growing Paprika

Since paprika is another type of red pepper it is grown in the same way as the cayenne peppers. Paprika peppers are ready to harvest when they are bright red in color. Hang to dry. Ground into a powder to use in cooking.

Purchasing & Storing Tips

If you are looking to buy ready-made paprika then you can purchase it at the store from the spice aisle. There are usually two types of paprika, either Spanish or Hungarian. They are similar in flavor. The Spanish Paprika is smoked to get the peppers to dry out while the Hungarian form is sun-dried.

Red Chili Flakes

Health Benefits

For centuries, cooks in Southern Italy have been using red peppers to spice up their pasta and pizza even before knowing the plethora of health benefits that the plant gives us.

• Antioxidant
• Blood Sugar Reduction
• Cholesterol Reduction
• Heart HealthImmunity Booster
• Nausea Treatment
• Stomach Ulcers Protection
• Stroke Risk Reduction

Cooking with Red Chili Flakes

Adding red chili pepper flakes or crushed red pepper to your meal adds a spice to the foods. As with any seasoning, take it slowly to start as it can become overwhelming in high quantities.

RELATED: Recipes using Red Chili Flakes

Growing Red Chili Pepper

Red Chili Pepper Flakes are made from, you guessed it, red chili peppers. There are a few types of red chili peppers you can grow, though the one you choose will be based on how hot you want your flakes. They are grown and harvested the same way as the cayenne peppers and paprika peppers.

To make the flakes from fresh peppers, you’ll want to cut the stems off of the peppers and lay them out on a cookie sheet. Set the oven to a low temperature to dehydrate the peppers. You can also use a dehydrator or hang them in the sun to dry. Use a food processor and pulse the dried peppers to get them to the texture you desire.

Purchasing & Storing Tips

Pre-made red chili pepper flakes are, of course, the easy way to do it. These can be found in the spice aisle and sometimes with pizza toppings.

Want a printable version of the entire list of Essential Herbs and Spices and their health benefits? Click below to receive the list in PDF format.

Sources for Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, and Red Chili Flakes information:

1. http://www.gettystewart.com/how-to-make-homemade-cayenne-pepper/
2. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/growing-cayenne-peppers.htm
3. https://draxe.com/
4. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/growing-paprika-peppers.htm
5. https://www.pepperscale.com/crushed-red-pepper-recipe/

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