Paella National Dish

Paella is a popular Spanish rice dish that includes meat, vegetables, and seafood. saffron is typically one of the main ingredients. This exotic dish originated in the city of Valencia and is said to be a blend of Roman and Arabian cuisine, which were the two prominent cultures of early Spain. Spaniards traditionally cooked Paella in a special pan over an open fire.

Spain cuisine is made up of a great number of dishes that stem from the diversity in geography, climate, and culture. It is deeply influenced by the abundant seafood available from the waters that surround the country and reflects the country’s deep Mediterranean roots. Spain’s extensive history with many cultural influences has led to its unique cuisine.

National

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What Is Paella And How Do You Make It At Home?

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Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.Spain’s culinary culture is as rich and varied as the country itself and one of the most popular dishes found here is Paella. There are many theories about the origin of this iconic Spanish dish; the first relates to its’ origin and the second has to do with the ingredients used in the cooking of the dish. Simply put, Paella emerged in Valencia, Spain, in the area of the lagoons and marshes of the Albufera, where fresh water mingles with the water from the Mediterranean. Most restaurants throughout the world serve paella with seafood, which should be no surprise, considering the rich variety of seafood from the Mediterranean.  What most people don’t know is that shrimp and squid were not part of the original recipe. 

Spanish National Dish Paella Stock Photo 264801815

Most people believe that the word Paella comes from the Old Valencian language and has its roots in the Latin word patella meaning pan. That said, there are several other theories out there about the origin of the word. The most romantic of them being that the dish was first prepared by a lover for his fiancee and that paella is a corruption of the word “para ella” meaning “for her”.  There could be a speck of truth to this because today making paella is usually left to men! Others believe, that paella comes from the Arabic word “Baqiyah” meaning leftovers, pointing to the humble beginnings of this dish and its Arabic influence because the Moors brought rice to Spain.

Today it is hard to separate Valencia from paella. Paella emerged as a gastronomic delight in the 18th century and was cooked in a round flat pan that it was named after. The circular pan is made of polished steel, it is wide and not very deep with two handles on each side. Its flat and shallow design provides fast and uniform evaporation of the broth, an essential cooking technique for authentic paella. The recipe was dreamed up because of the introduction of short grain rice from Africa. The Moors conquered most of the Iberian peninsula during the 15th century and found that Valencia’s warm, dry climate was ideal to cultivate rice. In fact,  paella is all about this short grained rice which splits the short way when heated rather than on the ends like other kinds of rice. This special short grained rice grown in Valencia allows it to absorb much more flavor from whatever it is cooked with.

Paella was originally a peasant dish that was eaten by farmers and laborers. It was most often cooked by workers over a large fire made from orange tree branches for their lunchtime meal. Originally, it was made with whatever ingredients were on hand in the rice fields and countryside and, could include anything from tomatoes, onions, and snails; to rabbit, duck or chicken, with a dash of saffron for color and flavor and beans to add texture. Traditionally, each person ate right from the pan using a wooden spoon. 

A History Of The Paella

As Valencia rice became more available, paella recipes were shared and adapted with many new variations as this dish became popular throughout Spain and beyond. Today, a “true” Paella Valenciana is made with a mixture of chicken, rabbit, and snails with saffron and green beans and has no seafood, but most often, it is made with seafood including shrimp, clams and squid.

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Food is a big part of Spanish culture, families use meals to socialize and meet at the end of the day. Many consider Paella as the National dish of Spain, that has as many variations as there are cooks! One thing every variation of paella has in common besides the rice and saffron is that it is a very social culinary occasion. Families congregate to eat paella not only in restaurants; but also at their homes, at mountain picnic sites and, on the beach. Making paella takes time and encourages conversation and celebration. For visitors, learning about paella and feasting on it is a highlight of any trip.

Tours of Distinction offers an escorted trip to Spain, hitting all of the high points of this diverse and beautiful country. Cities that will be visited include Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo, Seville and Madrid. Special excursions planned include a bull farm experience, A Tapas Dinner, and Flamenco Show, and special tours of Llardi, known as the City of Porcelain, an Olive Farm and an Oil Mill Tour. This tour also includes a canal cruise of the rice field plantations that surround Valencia as well as a cooking demonstration on how paella is made followed by an authentic paella lunch at an authentic fisherman’s home known as a “barraca”.

Spain's Iconic National Dishes

Cookies are used to make this website work and to enhance your experience. To learn more about the types of cookies this website uses, see our Privacy Policy. You can provide consent by clicking the Accept button or by canceling this cookie notice.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.

The

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).

National Spanish Paella Day

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.

Paella,

Authentic Spanish 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

Traditional Spanish Paella Recipe