Paprika
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This is a spice that's ground from dried sweet red peppers – both mild and hot – and comes labelled as such. In this case hot does not really mean chilli-hot, but more piquant, so have no fear.
It is made in Hungary and used extensively in Hungarian and Austrian dishes (in wonderful pepper-scented stews such as goulash or chicken paprika). The Spanish also produce paprika and it turns up in many of their recipes – the famous chorizo sausage is made with it. Recently Spain has been producing smoked paprika from dried smoked peppers, and this has added a whole new dimension to this particular spice.
Once again, remember the rule: buy in small quantities and replace frequently. If you can't find it in supermarkets, smoked pimentón is available from two of Delia's favourite stockists, The Spice Shop and Brindisa.
Serves 4Marinated Mushrooms with Garlic and Smoked Pimentón Mayonnaise
Veggies will love this recipe – marinating mushrooms adds masses of flavour. Serve them with a sweet-spice pimenton mayonnaise for dipping.
Serves 6Lentil and Vegetable Curry
Lentils and other pulses are invaluable if you need to eat cheaply - not only do they fill you up but they are also an important source of pure protein and less expensive than chicken or meat. This spicy veggie curry is a good example…
Serves 3Devilled Chicken Drumsticks
Marinating chicken drumsticks in a mixture of Worcestershire sauce, tomato puree, mustard and soy sauce really brings what can be a fairly dull bit of chicken to life, and is a cheap and flavoursome way of feeding three people.
Serves 2Spicy Marinated Fish with Pineapple Salsa
Easy, healthy and quick to cook, this fish recipe makes a fine supper dish for two. And the pineapple salsa is one of those accompaniments that you can make and serve with everything from barbecue food to grilled chicken.
Serves 4Spanish Chicken with Butter Beans, Chorizo and Tomatoes
A one-pot recipe that will definitely become one of your favourites! Packed with flavour, this Spanish casserole is simply wonderful and needs nothing else with it. How easy is that?
