Classic Spanish Paella Recipe

Is one of the few dishes that can truly represent an entire country. It is one of the most popular Spanish dishes all over the world, and it should come as no surprise given how delicious it is.

Is a dish that is eaten throughout the year, and you can find it in any restaurant in Spain. Different provinces and regions have their own version, and here we’ll focus on the Andalusian version.

If you want to learn how to make a traditional Spanish paella then continue reading, later I will share with you some tips so that you can make this Spanish rice recipe without problems.

Seafood Paella: History, Recipe & Secret Tips To Make Paella De Mariscos!

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Lastly, if you liked this recipe you should try and make other delicious Spanish recipes such as tortilla de patatas recipe, Andalusian spicy gambas al pil pil, and the classic Spanish chorizo Rice.

From Andalusia is a dish made with seafood and rice, there are still hundreds of changes that you can make to the ingredients.

Spanish Paella Recipe (seafood, Chicken, & Chorizo)

One of the big changes that you can make to the ingredients in this recipe is to remove the seafood and replace it with a different ingredient.

Or if you want something very simple and ready in no time, try our quick vegan Spanish rice or the Spanish rice with beans that is just as delicious.

The vegetable that works better to replace the seafood is the marinated artichoke hearts, they have a pretty similar texture and you might even find them infused with seafood flavor.

The Ultimate Easy Spanish Paella Recipe

There are some other Spanish recipes that you can try that are perfect if you love fish such as the delicious grilled Spanish mackerel or some appetizing grilled prawns.

Paella and Spanish clams are both recipes that Spaniards love to prepare for their Christmas dinner, so you can try them and have a different cuisine for the holidays.

If you want to try something more unique but with the same Paella taste, try the easy paella with pasta recipe and the rich Spanish chorizo paella.

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Paella goes very well with the sweet summer wine Sangria or if you want something alcohol-free, try the Spanish horchata drink, for a healthy and delicious option.

This dish is the star of Spanish cuisine and if you want to give a go to other Spanish specialties, make sure to try our Carajillo Spanish coffee recipe.

, this dish is not liquid or has a lot of broth, so fortunately you can keep it for a couple of days in the fridge, or even freeze it.

Classic Seafood Paella Recipe

Just be sure to store it in a container with a lid, or in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap to prevent air from getting in.

In the refrigerator, it lasts up to 3 days, and frozen it lasts up to 30 days. Then you just have to heat it, either in the microwave, in the oven, or in a pan over medium heat.

The best rice for paella is the bomba rice, also known as short-grain rice. If you can't find it, you can use medium-grain rice, but try to avoid using long grain rice.

Traditional Spanish Seafood Paella Recipe

If you aren't a fan of seafood don't worry, there are other recipes of paella without seafood, such as paella with chicken, paella with chorizo, etc.

If you can't find one of them don't worry, just use more of a different kind (for example, add more shrimp if you don't have squid).

Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.

How To Make Seafood Paella

I must have cooked the rice for 45 minutes to an hour. Just would not soften. Eating el dente or harder, still near raw. I used a 14 wok as I'd seen a friend use with success. Maybe it will work for you. It did not work for me, and I will definitely cook the rice separate and add to other cooked ingredients. I can taste a bit of the burnt from the bottom of the wok. I used Vigo Yellow rice, would just not cook up. If I tried to increase heat, the bottom of pan burned, lower heat and would not cook.

Hi, thank you for your message. it really depends on the rice you use and also not cooking it on a too-high fire. I never use a wok for paella, only a flat pan and I actually like when there is a VERY small taste of burnt :)

Yes, I tried it. It was something of a fail for me because the rice would not cook up after a very long time. If I cook again, I will cook the rice separate and add to the rest of ingredients. I made a couple mistakes besides: I thought I'd bought deveined and shelled shrimp, but after I dumped into wok, I realized it was not shelled, and about half was not deveined as advertized. While digging out and shelling and deveining, the bottom of the wok burned a little -- even though wok was supposed to be 'non-stick.' Well I will correct mistakes next time, and definitely cook the rice separate as that was a big fail -- would just not cook to soften.Here’s how to make a paella recipe…the Spanish way! This stunning one pan dinner features shrimp, vegetables and all the authentic flavors of this traditional dish.

Authentic Spanish Paella

Here’s a stunning one pan dinner that’s made for celebrations: paella! This traditional Spanish rice dish has thousands of variations. but it’s always rice with an explosion of colorful toppings. This one is our best classic paella recipe, based on our travels through Spain! We’ve perfected the skills so you can try it at home. It stars saffron-scented rice, mixed colorful vegetables and shrimp, and it’s full of traditional flavor. Here’s everything you need to know to make paella at home!

Paella is a traditional Spanish dish with saffron-flavored rice topped with seafood, meat and/or vegetables and served in a shallow paella pan. There are varying sizes of paella pans: small pans for two people, and massive paella pans for a crowd. (Fun fact: the world’s largest paella was made in a pan big enough for 30, 000 people!)

What types of paella are there? Spaniards themselves differ on what is the most classic, authentic paella recipe. Alex and I have eaten paella in Valencia, Barcelona, and Madrid, and all of them have been vastly different. There are four main types of paella:

Authentic Spanish Paella Recipe

Paella recipe, we used the common elements in the paella recipes we’ve had in different regions in Spain. Here’s what’s featured in this paella:

A paella pan is a large round, shallow pan with handles used for cooking paella. The shallow shape lets rice cook consistently and lets it dry out more than it can in a skillet. If you have a paella pan or want one, now’s the time to use it! This recipe is for a 15-inch paella pan that serves 4 people. If you’re looking for one, here’s a link to purchase a 4-person paella pan.

Don’t have a paella pan? Don’t worry! Make this paella in your largest skillet. The larger the better! You may need to adjust the cook time slightly if you are using a skillet.

Easy Paella Recipe

Paella pan care instructions:Paella pans are made of carbon steel and can rust. Make sure to dry the pan completely after cleaning it, and rub it with a bit of vegetable oil to prevent rusting.

The most authentic paella rice type is called bomba rice. Bomba rice is a white short grain rice. You can also use Arborio rice, which is easier to find but can result in a gummier texture than bomba. Either work! For this recipe we tried bomba and felt like it had more consistent results. You can find bomba rice online. Order it:Bomba rice

This is an authentic style paella recipe, so it uses two special spices to get that traditional flavor. Here’s what to know:

Spanish Paella Recipe

Once all the ingredients are added to the pan in paella, here’s what to do…or really, what not to do. Don’t stir it! Please repeat: no stirring allowed. The broth and spices boil through the rice, leaving everything perfectly flavored and cooked.

Traditionally, it’s good to get a brown crust on the bottom of the rice (perfectly brown, without burning it). The Spanish call this

. It’s difficult to achieve the perfect socarrat because so much depends on the exact timing. It’s also a little harder to get it if you’re using a skillet. But never fear! Each time you cook this recipe, you’ll learn new things about perfecting your paella technique.

Paella, The Traditional Spanish Dish From Valencia

Don’t want to make a shrimp paella recipe? No problem. We love making vegan and vegetarian paella as well. (Or go to this Easy Vegetarian Paella.) Here’s what to do to customize this recipe:

Making this paella as part of a dinner? Here’s are