Erős Pista
Erős Pista is the common trade name in Hungary for a spicy paste made from pureed spiced paprika (chilli) and salt . The name is derived from the Hungarian “erős” (“sharp”, but also “strong, strong”) and Pista , a nickname of István (Stefan). Literally translated, the paste is called “the strong Steffchen” or “the firm Stefan”.
Manufacturing
Erős Pista is made from pitted Hungarian peppers. The unmilled kernels are only added after pureeing to regulate the heat, so you can see from the kernels whether the paste is hot or mild. The milder, noble sweet version of Erős Pista is sold under the name "Édes Anna" (Hungarian: Sweet Anna) and made from mild Hungarian peppers.
use
Erős Pista is used in Hungarian cuisine to season soups and sauces, for example for the famous Hungarian goulash (gulyás), but also occasionally instead of mustard to refine sausages and roasted meat. It is often preferred to paprika powder because the taste is fruity.
Due to the high salt content, Erős Pista can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time.