Never buy paprika again – easy garden hack lets you make it yourself

Did you know you can make your own paprika? (Stock Image) (Image: Getty)

If you desperately want to become more sustainable and grow food in your garden or home, look no further.

Gardener Simon Akeroyd has shared how you can “grow paprika from the supermarket,” and it’s so easy.

As part of his caption, he explained: “Paprika is the dried powder from either chilli peppers or milder bell peppers. If you prefer sweet paprika, then choose bell peppers.

“If you like it a bit more spicy, then grow chillies with the appropriate amount of heat to make your taste buds zing!”

He also noted: “Technically, paprika is made from a paprika pepper, but any chilli or bell pepper will do.”

He said: “Now is a good time” to do this if you want to make your own paprika.

First, you should “cut open a chilli or pepper” and “scrape the seeds out and gather them up.”

If you’re handling “hot varieties,” he recommended that you should use gloves so you don’t accidentally touch your eyes later and know about it.

He then said you should “sprinkle seeds over compost” and then cover the seeds with “more compost.”

Then, you should “place them on a windowsill for a few weeks” and then you’ll have lots of “free chilli plants.”

You should plant the seedlings into separate pots and “bring the chillies or peppers indoors to dry to make paprika.”

Simon then said that you should “attach your chillis or peppers to strings held with pegs to dry them.”

Then, “once the chillies are dry, remove the stalks and seeds, then chop up the chillis in a blender until it becomes a powder.”

You can then “store your paprika in jars” and “enjoy it” whenever you need it in cooking.

In the comments, someone penned: “This is fantastic. My partner eats chilli, but quite often, I find them wrinkled in the back of the cupboard. Never knew this was a thing. Thank you.” Others said they were definitely going to “try it.”

Will you make your own paprika? Let us know in the comments...