Famous Spanish Rice Dish

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.

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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).

Arroz Rojo Recipe: Authentic Mexican Red Rice

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.

Leftover Spanish Rice Recipes Your Family Will Ask For Again

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.

Altos: Spanish Rice

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.

Mom's Spanish Rice Recipe: How To Make It

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).

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

Seafood Paella Recipe

*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).

*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

Most Popular Spanish Rice Dishes

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.Easy Spanish Rice, also known as Mexican Rice, is a simple and delicious way to make rice more exciting and a must-have side dish at any Mexican night or Tapas dinner party. Perfect fluffy rice with smoky paprika and a hint of chilli and it is all made in one pot. It's super versatile too.

We love a one pot recipe (less washing up is always a good thing), and this is one that the whole family will love. No need to serve up plain rice - simply cook it with a smoky and spicy sauce and it is perfect for serving with tacos or fajitas, with grilled chicken or salmon, or as one of the dishes at a tapas dinner party.

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If you are looking for some other rice recipes to try, then why not try our Easy Coconut Rice, Mediterranean Rice Salad, Oven Cooked Rice, Perfect Microwave Rice or Easy Greek Rice.

Spanish Rice And Beans (mexican Rice)

Three: Add the rest of the ingredients (except the parsley). Stir and simmer for 15 minutes or until all the liquid has gone.

Spanish rice is a flavour packed rice dish that has all the best Spanish flavours in it. Rice is lightly toasted in a pan with chunky onion and bell pepper and then cooked in a tomato sauce that is seasoned with garlic, paprika and herbs.

It's one of those side dishes that tastes far more fancy than it actually is, and is made from ingredients that you usually already have in your cupboards.

Best Spanish Rice With Meat Recipes

We love a recipe that is easy to adapt, and this is definitely it. You can make it a different way each time and here is some of our favourite things to mix in to it:

What we love about Spanish Rice is that there is so many different ways to serve it - it is a really versatile side dish. We love it with Oven Baked Fajitas, or Grilled Chicken Tacos, or even on a Vegan Burrito Bowl.

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But it doesn't just go with Mexican dishes. It is a must with any Tapas spread and it goes well with Mediterranean Salmon.

Quick & Easy Garlicky Saffron Rice

Store: We try to only make as much as we are going to need, however if you have some leftovers, then make sure that it is completely cooled and then stored in an air tight container. It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Freeze: It is best to freeze the rice as soon after it is cooked as possible. Put it in a freezer container and allow it to cool. Once cooled, put a lid on the container and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

As long as you make sure to use gluten free stock and that there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.

One Pot Spanish Chicken And Rice

Heart icon Extra tips • Make this dish even easier and swap out half the tomato sauce for some salsa. You will need to then adjust the seasoning, but it's a really easy way to add lots of flavour. • The amount of liquid in this recipe should be seen as a guideline. If you cook this at a higher cooking temperature, then you may need to add some extra liquid, so do keep checking on it. • Make sure you don't skip the step of toasting the rice first. You want to make sure