Burnt Paella

Depending on where in the country you are, the type of pan your rice is cooked in and the ingredients it contains, rice can go by a huge range of names here in Spain. Making sure you know which words to look for will ensure that you get the freshest, most delicious rice in each region.

4.4.1 Want to learn how to make authentic local dishes during your trip? If you’re also traveling to Madrid, join us for our Spanish Cooking Class & Market Visit!

With the exception of the eastern region of Valencia (the birthplace of paella), what the rest of the world calls “paella” goes by many different names here in Spain. In fact, outside of Valencia,  the dishes that are 

Easy Peasy Paella Recipe And Cooking Tips

True Valencian paella has no seafood and is only about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) deep in the pan. It originated as a hearty lunch for workers in the fields far from the coast.

The traditional recipe calls for rabbit, snails and large green beans and is cooked over an open fire in a thin, round pan known as a

. Most are still cooked using the exact same paella pan, but because the ingredients and the region are different, it’s not called a paella. Instead, it’s “rice with…” whichever main ingredient they’ve chosen to add. 

The Thrilling Dare Of Scorched Rice

The thing about paella is that the rice soaks up all the cooking liquid, so the end result isn’t very moist. But if you’re craving a Spanish rice dish so juicy that it’s almost creamy, look for

This rice dish is prepared in a deep, black, cauldron-like pan and hails from Murcia, the region just south of Valencia along the Mediterranean coast. And where paella is all about the crisp crust on the bottom of the pan,

Literally means “brothy rice.” This style of Spanish rice dish is popular throughout the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal included!) and has hundreds of variations, from seafood to vegetables to chicken.

Chef Quique Dacosta's Top Tips For Cooking An Authentic Paella

Or black rice, gets its jet black color from squid ink. It usually contains calamari and other seafood hidden in the inky goodness. And don’t forget to ask for bright white

When it comes to ordering Spanish rice—or making it at home—there are a few words you’ll want to know. Here are few terms that might come up that you probably didn’t learn in your Spanish class at school!

Is the crispy, almost burnt layer along the bottom of the paella pan. Only the best paella chefs know how to create

How To Make The Perfect Socarrat: A Guide To Getting The Burnt Bottom Of Paella

. You can find these unique beans almost exclusively along Spain’s easternmost provinces in the region known as Levante. If you’re not in eastern Spain, butter beans are an acceptable substitute.

. These dried, round peppers are an essential part of the broth and bring a richness and deepness of flavor to the rice. Most chefs use about three

Fun fact: saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Many Spaniards substitute it for a yellow food coloring to cut down on the cost of making paella.

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. This variety of rice has a lower starch content which means each grain stays intact and doesn’t fall apart, which is how paella maintains such a unique texture!

The great thing about the Spanish capital is that you can find authentic versions of just about every regional cuisine in Spain. Seek out restaurants owned and operated by families from Spain’s coastal regions, and you’re guaranteed to have a memorable meal.

This family-owned restaurant brings the coast of Murcia into the heart of Madrid. They offer 14 different types of rice dishes, from their namesake 

Traditional Paella Recipe

90 percent of the ingredients that the restaurant uses, from the rice to the salt to the wines, they bring fresh from small producers in Murcia every week.

For classic Valencian paellas, there are few better places in Madrid than Casa de Valencia. In fact, the king of Spain himself inaugurated this spot and it has been serving a wide selection of paellas (

Sol Pérez Fragero named Bar La Gloria after her grandmother, whose homemade meals created years of special family memories. This restaurant in Malasaña, home to some of the best paella in Madrid, continues the family legacy by serving hearty, homestyle traditional Spanish food.

The Step By Step Guide To Making Perfect Paella

Heads up: Bar La Gloria usually only offers their paella on Sundays, but it’s well worth the wait—and the experience of enjoying it as a long weekend lunch like many Spanish families do.

Founded in 1935 by a Valencian family, it’s safe to say that La Barraca knows what it’s doing when it comes to paella. Their extensive menu offers nearly 20 excellent Spanish rice dishes and even a fantastic

Can’t make it to Spain right now? Here are a few tried-and-true recipes that will help you bring the best Spanish rice dishes to life in your own kitchen.

Oc] Chorizo, Squid & Prawn Paella I Made For My Dads Birthday + Basque Burnt Cheesecake A Friend Made For Him

Let’s start off with a classic. This traditional Spanish paella recipe follows the Valencian standards, but uses ingredients that are more easily accessible for most home cooks outside of Valencia.

Has its roots in the inland parts of Valencia, the region also has hundreds of miles of stunning Mediterranean coastline. So it’s no surprise that locals soon began adding fresh fish and shellfish to their paella!

Seafood paella is the best-known version of the dish outside Spain. Try it for yourself at home with this delicious seafood paella recipe!

Grilled Paella Mixta (mixed Paella With Chicken And Seafood) Recipe

Murcia’s prime location right on southeastern Spain’s Mediterranean coast gives it plenty of sunshine. As a result, it’s home to some of the best fresh produce in Spain.

Delicious local vegetables are the star of the show in this vegetarian paella. It’s also easily adaptable to whatever produce you have on hand!

The earliest versions of paella were cooked in large pans over an open fire outdoors. But oven-baked Spanish rice dishes are worth a try as well. This arroz al horno recipe with garbanzos and dates is completely vegan and the definition of comfort food!

How To Not Burn Paella: Tips And Tricks For Making Perfect Paella

Want to learn how to make authentic local dishes during your trip? If you’re also traveling to Madrid, join us for our Spanish Cooking Class & Market Visit!