Erős Pista (Strong Steve) is a classic Hungarian hot paprika paste you’ll find in most kitchens and restaurants in Hungary, and for good reason.
The rich and aromatic quality of the fresh paprika is the first thing you notice when opening the jar. I would swear it’s smoked as I take a deep whiff, though I know it’s not. The sauce itself is raw and coarsely minced paprika that is then cured in salt. The flavor is almost identical to the smell: a robust and mature, almost smoky, paprika punch. Whereas, the salty aftertaste is superb at rounding-off the overall robust or “strong” flavor of the raw paprika.
Overall the hot paprika does provide some lip burn, but it’s not too hot. I give it a rating of the low side of Órale! (see chart below). The spice it does have is partially due to the fact that some of its seeds are left in, and though I’m a little picky about seeds, the texture of the sauce is fantastic. It also seems processed with care as I rarely end up with any paprika peel in my food.
I have been using Erős Pista for a couple of years now and I am still crazy for it. I have nothing negative to say about this product; someone could complain about the saltiness maybe, but it’s how this type of sauce is made, and frankly I dig. Erős Pista is an injection of awesomeness to soup or stew (traditionally goulash) or meat. This sauce was absolutely made to mingle!
Recommendations: Mix some with a great olive oil and use it as your pizza base (introduced to me by @wildgoatwoman). If you like ranch dressing, or “sorority sauce” as some of us call it in New Mexico, mix it into your ranch for a seriously great dipping sauce. If you’re looking for more heat in the same style of sauce however, try Haragos Pista(Angry Steve). It certainly has a lot more of the classic hot paprika heat with the original great robust flavor. Cheers!
You can buy it here, and NO, we make no money off this.
New Mexican Spicy Rating System:
Forged in the fires of Mount Doom (industrial use) 9-10+
Chingón! (like a lot!) 7-8
—> Órale! (feeling it for sure!) 5-6<—
Un Poquito (a little) 3-4
Nadaz (none) 0-2
Tags: double spicy, eros pista, hot sauce, hungarian paprika, hungary, new mexico, paprika paste, review, spicy