The word paprika is Hungarian for pepper. At its core, paprika is a powder made up of dried and finely ground red peppers. This globally popular spice can be sweet, spicy, or smoked. Not only does paprika add rich flavor, but also a beautiful red color to dishes.
Q: Can I substitute crushed red pepper for paprika or vice versa? A: While both spices have distinct flavors, you can substitute one for the other if you're looking to adjust heat levels.
SUBSTITUTES FOR PAPRIKA

Cayenne comes from the cayenne pepper. These peppers are also part of the Capsicum annuum family, but they’re much hotter than the peppers used to make paprika (from 35,000 Scoville heat units and up).