Traditional 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.

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).

Traditional Spanish Paella Dish Icon Royalty Free Vector

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.

El Avion Spanish Paella Kit

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.

Authentic 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.

Autentic Spanish Paella: Recipes And Traditions

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.

Traditional Spanish Seafood 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).

*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

Mkr's Dan And Steph: Spicy Sicilian Sausage 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.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.

Spanish Paellas: + Recipe For Paella Valenciana

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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 Genuine Paella

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.

Seafood Paella. Paella Is A Traditional Spanish Rice Dish From The Valencia Region But Popular All Over Spain. Paella Uses A Val Stock Photo

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.

What's In A Real Paella?

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.

Seafood Paella (paella De Marisco)

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.

Keto4karboholics Traditional Spanish Paella — Keto4karboholicsketo4karboholics

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