Best Spanish Paella

You can make a delicious, authentic Paella–the most popular dish of Spain–in your own kitchen with simple ingredients like rice, saffron, vegetables, chicken, and seafood. If you love cooking International food, you will fall in love with this comforting dish! 

My goal with this paella recipe was to use the tutelage I received while living in Madrid to create a traditional Spanish paella that anyone can make (and without special equipment, like a paella pan). After lots of trial and error, I am so excited to share everything I know and have learned about making Paella, as authentically and practically for the home cook, as possible.

Seafood

Paella (pai · ei · uh) is a classic Spanish rice dish made with rice, saffron, vegetables, chicken, and seafood cooked and served in one pan. Although paella originates from Valencia, it’s recognized as the national food of Spain and there are several different varieties. The most common types of paella are chicken paella, seafood paella, or mixed paella (a combination of seafood, meats, and vegetables).

The Ultimate Easy Spanish Paella Recipe

The main ingredients in every paella dish are rice, saffron, chicken, and vegetables.  From there, ingredients vary depending on the type of paella or region where it’s made.  The ingredients in this easy paella recipe include:

1. Sauté:  Add olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell peppers and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent. Add chopped tomato, bay leaf, paprika, saffron, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Add broth.  Pour the broth slowly all around the pan and jiggle the pan to get the rice into an even layer. (Do not stir the mixture going forward!). Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low. Give the pan a gentle shake back and forth once or twice during cooking.

Skillet Chicken And Chorizo Paella Recipe

5. Cook uncovered: Cook paella uncovered for 15-18 minutes, then nestle the shrimp, mussels and calamari into the mixture, sprinkle peas on top and continue to cook (without stirring) for about 5 more minutes. Watch for most of the liquid to be absorbed and the rice at the top nearly tender.

6. Cover and let rest.  Remove pan from heat and cover pan with a lid or tinfoil. Place a kitchen towel over the lid and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Spanish rice (also called “bomba” rice, calaspara rice, arroz redonda) is traditional in Paella, and it’s what I recommend using. It’s a short grain rice that absorbs more water than regular rice, without turning mushy. You can buy Spanish rice on Amazon, World Market or an international food market.

Chicken & Shrimp Spanish Paella

If you don’t like seafood, leave it out and substitute more chicken and vegetables. You can use any combination of your favorite seafood including clams, scallops and chopped pieces of fish. Frozen seafood is a great accessible option if you don’t live near the ocean. (Costco sells a great mixed seafood bag in their freezer section with shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, and calamari.) Be sure to thaw frozen seafood in the fridge overnight before using.

When buying fresh seafood make sure to smell it to make sure it’s fresh. It should not have a strong fishy odor. Most of the seafood used here will smell like nothing, or just like the ocean (slightly salty). Be sure to clean it properly (remove “beards” from mussels, if necessary).

No, you can us a regular large skillet to make Paella (I use a 12×2 inch skillet and this recipe fills it to the brim). Traditional paella is cooked in a large paella pan because it allow the rice to be spread out into a thin layer and cook more evenly.

Spanish Seafood Paella

You can make a delicious, authentic Paella--the most popular dish of Spain--in your own kitchen with simple ingredients like rice, saffron, vegetables, chicken, and seafood.

*Rice: Spanish rice (also called “bomba” rice, calaspara rice, arroz redonda) is traditional in Paella, and it’s what I recommend using. (If your grocery store doesn't carry it, try Amazon, World Market, or an International food market). If necessary you can substitute medium grain rice, like Calrose rice which can be found at Walmart or most grocery stores, and reduce the broth to 3 ¾ cups. (I don’t recommend using Arborio rice or long-grain rice for Paella).

*Broth: Authentic paella would include making your own fish stock from the discard shells of seafood. I usually substitute chicken broth for convenience.

My Traditional Spanish Paella

*Seafood: If you don’t like seafood, leave it out and substitute more chicken or vegetables. You can use any combination of your favorite seafood including clams, scallops and chopped pieces of fish. Frozen seafood is a great accessible option if you don’t live near the ocean. (Costco sells a great mixed seafood bag in their freezer section with shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, and calamari.) Be sure to thaw frozen seafood in the fridge overnight before using. If buying fresh seafood, smell it to make sure it’s fresh. It should not have a strong fishy odor. Most of the seafood used here will smell like nothing, or just like the ocean (slightly salty). Be sure to clean it properly (remove “beards” from mussels, if necessary).

Spanish

*Saffron: this may be the most important ingredient, so it’s best to buy high quality. If your grocery store doesn’t carry it, try an International food market, or Amazon. If necessary, substitute 1 teaspoon saffron powder.

Calories: 535 kcal Carbohydrates: 59 g Protein: 37 g Fat: 15 g Saturated Fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 260 mg Sodium: 1159 mg Potassium: 805 mg Fiber: 3 g Sugar: 3 g Vitamin A: 1408 IU Vitamin C: 58 mg Calcium: 125 mg Iron: 4 mg

Spanish Seafood Paella Recipe

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.Get ready for some YUM!😋 This is hands down, the easiest and tastiest “Spanish Seafood Paella 🥘 Recipe”. Let’s talk about how gorgeous this dish is, look at it! It is a statement itself!

This dish is a mixture of rice, veggies, infused with Saffron, and different spices.Packed with a combination of seafood: shrimps, mussels, calamari, lobster’s tail, fish fillet, and clams

Paella is a widely known dish from Spain. It was first cooked by theValencian farmerson the eastern coast of Spain. They would cook medium grain-rice with whatever was available from meat and vegetables. One of the newest or modern versions is the seafood Paella.

Chicken Seafood Paella

The dish paella takes its name from the pan. It is believed that the word “paella” comes from the name of the pan it is made in - the Latin term patella.

No, you don’t. You can use any skillet or even any shallow & wide pan. Keep in mind, that your layer of rice should be no more than 2 or 2 1/2 inches deep. So the rice cooks quickly and evenly.

The

So the main ingredient is rice, you can find Paella rice sold in grocery stores but it can be a bit expensive. I found that usingmedium-grainedrice works great.

The Best Paella Restaurants In Eixample And All Barcelona 2023

I like using either vegetable stock or chicken stock for this dish, whatever is available. The stock adds richness and depth to the flavor. Be sure to taste the stock and adjust the season as needed.

If you can get your hands-on fish or seafood stock that would be even better, but I found that vegetable or chicken stock works perfectly.

Saffron is an expensive spice, but luckily, we only need a few threads. Try to get a good quality one, don’t worry a small box will last you a long time. Just keep it in an airtight container and away from direct sun.

Paella, The Traditional Spanish Dish From Valencia

It is the base of your dish. The combination of onion, garlic, tomato and peppers all sautéed in olive oil. I like to add to those celery and leeks they really richens the flavor more.

You can add any seafood you like. You can use more than 2 or even just one. We are big on seafood that’s why I added different kinds of seafood.

Tip: try adding 3 or 4 shrimps 🦐 heads-on if available, I noticed that it makes a big difference in the richness of the flavor.

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The Best Spanish Cities Where You Can Enjoy The Most Delicious Paella

This is hands down, the easiest, quickest and tastiest “Spanish Seafood Paella Recipe”. Let’s talk about how gorgeous this dish is, look at it! It is a statement itself!

This dish is a mixture of rice, veggies, infused with Saffron, and different spices. Packed with a combination of seafood: shrimps, mussels, calamari, lobster’s tail, fish fillet, and clams.

Serving: 1 g | Calories: 449 kcal | Carbohydrates: 71 g | Protein: 20 g | Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 111 mg | Sodium: 935 mg | Potassium: 415 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 3 g | Vitamin A: 1358 IU | Vitamin C: 20 mg | Calcium: 93 mg | Iron: 3 mg

Traditional Spanish Paella — Rockin Meals

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