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Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated Aug 24, 2020
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Every year, as the weather finally warms up, I find myself lamenting the fact that I don’t have a grill. When I start to crave the smoky flavor that comes with cooking over charcoal, but all I have to work with is my tiny apartment kitchen, I turn to a few choice alternatives that still pack an earthy, smoky punch.
1. Smoked Paprika
There’s a whole slew of paprika varieties out there, from the standard, sweet kind you sprinkle over deviled eggs to the hot stuff that adds a punch to any dish. But it’s smoked paprika that really deserves the spotlight. Also called Pimentón de la Vera, this Spanish variety is made from pimiento peppers that have been dried and smoked over an oak fire and then ground into a powder. Just a pinch or two adds an incredibly smoky flavor to dishes — try a little in soup or in a dry rub for meat and fish.
Get a recipe: Smoky Creamed Kale
2. Smoked Olive Oil
Made by infusing natural smoke from a mix of oak, beech, and birch wood into the oil, smoked olive oil is seriously incredible stuff. It’s expensive, but a little goes quite a long way — too much and it’s overpowering — so consider it a finishing oil. Drizzle a bit over roasted potatoes or other vegetables right before serving, or elevate store-bought hummus by finishing it with just a little. It’s also surprisingly awesome over vanilla ice cream, with sliced peaches and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
3. Black Cardamom
When most people think about cardamom, they are likely thinking of green cardamom, which is found in pod and ground form and whose warming flavor enhances everything from chai to baked goods. But if you’re in need of a bit of smoky flavor, turn to black cardamom. The larger black pods are smoked over an open fire and have a similar flavor profile to green cardamom, but with an added smoky punch. The pods are powerful, so only a couple are needed to enhance a dish. It’s a common ingredient in savory Indian recipes, from the spice blend garam masala to curries.
Get a recipe: Lamb Rogan Josh
4. Chipotle Peppers
Chipotles are dried and smoked jalapeño peppers, so they’re both spicy and smoky. You’ll most commonly find them ground into a powder, or whole in a spicy, tomato-based sauce called adobe. Sprinkle the powder into salsa and on vegetables before grilling,or try chipotles en adobe blended into a dip or used in a marinade for meat.
Get a recipe: Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce
5. Smoked Cheese
Practically every kind of cheese has a smoked counterpart, be it cheddar, mozzarella, chevre, ricotta,
blue
calzone or
pasta, or swap regular mozzarella for smoked the next time you make
pizza.
Get a recipe: Grilled Peppadews with Smoked Mozzarella
6. Lapsang Souchong
This Chinese tea is made by drying the leaves over pinewood fires, which gives it an incredibly smoky flavor. Brew the tea and use it as a poaching liquid, or cook your grains or beans in it. You can even grind up the leaves into a powder and use it like a ground spice. Try adding a little to meat or veggie burger patties, or sprinkling over vegetables before roasting.
More ways to cook with tea:
7. Smoked Salt
Like smoked olive oil, smoked salt is best used to finish a dish. Add a pinch to scrambled eggs or mac and cheese right before digging in, toss a little with popcorn, or use a bit on top of homemade caramels for an unexpected twist.
Even more ideas: The $6 Ingredient That Adds Smoky Grilled Flavor (Without the Grill)
8. Liquid Smoke
Somehow liquid smoke got a bad culinary reputation, but despite what you might think it isn’t too high in sodium or bad for you — and it packs a punch of smoky flavor with just a few drops.
Read more: Liquid Smoke Is a Magical Ingredient for Smoky Flavor Without a Grill
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