If you are a fan of Spanish food and you are fascinated by tapas, Galician-style octopus, Spanish omelet, croquettes with Serrano ham and fried potatoes, indeed you are also a fan of Valencian paella, mixed paella or seafood paella, because it is a dish of humble origins that conquers even the most demanding palate.
Although many restaurants offer fantastic paellas, there is nothing like preparing them at home, so get to work and prepare an exquisite paella at home; here we tell you how!
Where was paella invented?
Paella is one of the most representative dishes of Spanish gastronomy, as it combines different ingredients and flavors, which make up an ideal dish to share with family or friends. This classic of Spanish cuisine is prepared with crystal rice, saffron, seafood, sausages, and vegetables.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, paella was created in the rice-producing region of Spain, located on the Mediterranean coast, which is why today it is related to Valencia. The encyclopedia points out that the name of this recipe comes from the utensil in which it is cooked, the paella pan.
The most traditional recipe for Valencian paella is prepared with crystal rice, olive oil, garlic, onion, saffron, tomato, chicken, pork, rabbit, clam, shrimp, mussels, crab, squid, peas, and bell pepper.
Seven tips for cooking paella for the first time
1. If you don’t have a paella pan at home, don’t worry; you can use a relatively large and wide pan.
2. The pan must have high walls since, in this way, the rice for paella will have enough space to hydrate.
3. Peasants created paella so that we can use any vegetable.
4. As for the rice for paella, the expert recommends using precooked rice, which is not beaten.
5. If you want to save money, you can buy paella seasoning or saffron seasoning, cheaper options than saffron.
6. Invest in an excellent extra virgin olive oil since the flavor of your paella will depend on your oil.
7. Add the shellfish during the last 10 minutes of cooking to prevent them from being rigid or rubbery.
The best paella recipe on the internet
This paella recipe has it all: it includes a wide variety of proteins, spices, and vegetables so that you will fall in love bite by bite. So don’t think twice and prepare this recipe step by step; you won’t regret it!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of precooked rice
- 1 cup Spanish chorizo, sliced
- enough olive oil
- 1 cup pork meat in small cubes
- 1 cup chicken breast in small cubes
- 1 cup of shrimp
- 1 cup of clam
- 3 cups of shrimp broth
- 1 cup of white wine
- 1 gram of saffron
- fresh rosemary
- 1 cup of green beans
- 1 cup bell pepper in strips
- 1 cup of peas
- yellow lemon to decorate
- fresh rosemary to decorate
Instructions:
1. Fry the chorizo in a paella pan over medium heat, then add the olive oil and cook until the chorizo is browned.
2. Add the pork, chicken, and precooked rice—Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add the green beans, fresh rosemary, and saffron, and pour in the shrimp broth and white wine. Cook the mixed paella for 30 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
4. Add bell peppers, peas, shrimp, and clams—Cook for ten more minutes.
5. Decorate the paella with lemon wedges and fresh rosemary. Serve and enjoy.
