Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Spice Rack with Smoked Paprika

For those making the vegetarian version of this dish, this recipe is a fantastic lesson in unlocking the transformative power of a single spice: smoked paprika. This humble red powder is the key to achieving a deep, savoury, and meaty flavour without any meat.
Unlike sweet or hot paprika, smoked paprika (or pimentón) is made from peppers that are slowly smoked over an oak fire before being ground. This process imbGes it with a rich, woodsy, and intensely smoky aroma and taste that is remarkably similar to that of smoked meats like chorizo.
When tossed with the butter beans and roasted in the oven, the smoked paprika’s flavour deepens and toasts, infusing the beans with an incredible savoury complexity. Paired with a pinch of sea salt, it creates a topping that is robust and satisfying enough to be the star of the dish.
Don’t underestimate the power of your spice rack. This recipe proves that a single, well-chosen spice like smoked paprika can completely define and elevate a dish, creating spectacular flavour from the simplest of ingredients.