Paella, a vibrant and flavorful dish originating from Valencia, Spain, has captured the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts worldwide. This delectable rice-based dish is a symphony of colors, textures, and aromas, boasting an array of ingredients that come together in a harmonious culinary masterpiece. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to embark on a culinary adventure, this guide will take you on a journey to discover the best paella recipe that suits your preferences and skill level. From traditional Spanish recipes passed down through generations to modern interpretations with unique twists, we'll explore the diverse world of paella and provide you with the knowledge and inspiration you need to create an unforgettable paella experience in the comfort of your own kitchen. So, let's embark on this culinary expedition and uncover the secrets behind the perfect paella.
Let's cook with our recipes!
BEST PAELLA
A big pan of paella is the perfect choice when cooking for a crowd. All you need to round out the meal is fresh bread and a green salad.-Jane Montgomery, Hilliard, Ohio
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 24 servings (1 cup each).
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook turkey and chorizo in oil in batches until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm. , In the same skillet, saute onions and red pepper until tender. Add garlic and cayenne; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in tomato puree and wine. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Transfer to a stock pot. Stir in the water, rice, broth, salt, thyme, saffron, bay leaf, turkey and chorizo. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. , Add shrimp; cook for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove from the heat; discard bay leaf. Stir in olives and parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 536 calories, Fat 26g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 159mg cholesterol, Sodium 1430mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 39g protein.
PAELLA
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Spritz 4 to 5 pieces of newspaper with vegetable oil and put in the bottom of a charcoal chimney starter. Fill the chimney with half of the charcoal and light the newspaper.
- When the charcoal is lightly covered with gray ash, carefully pour onto the bottom grate of a kettle grill and spread evenly. Top with the remaining unlit charcoal, spreading evenly so as not to suffocate the lit charcoal. Set the second grate in the kettle and cover until ready to cook.
- Meanwhile, halve the tomatoes and remove the seeds to a fine mesh strainer set over a small bowl to catch the juice. Grate the seeded halves on the large hole side of a box grater and discard the skins. Combine the reserved juice and grated tomato and set aside.
- Warm the chicken broth in a kettle or 4-quart saucepan over high heat until it reaches 200 degrees F. Remove the broth from the heat and cover to keep warm.
- Combine the rice, saffron, rosemary, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and paprika in a small mixing bowl.
- Heat the olive oil in the paella pan on the prepared grill. Season the chicken on all sides with the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Once the olive oil shimmers, add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side. Move the chicken to the outer edges of the pan. Add the green beans, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and garlic to the center of the pan and cook until they begin to soften and darken in color, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juice and cook until most of the liquid has dissipated and the tomatoes thicken and darken, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the rice mixture to the center of the pan and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
- Redistribute the chicken pieces on top of the rice. Add 4 cups of the warm chicken broth and stir to distribute the rice evenly in the pan, making sure that all rice is completely submerged in liquid. From this point forward do not stir the paella. After 8 to 9 minutes, when all of the liquid is absorbed and the rice appears dry, add an additional 4 cups of broth. Continue to cook without stirring, until the liquid is absorbed, about 8 to 9 minutes. The rice should be firm to the bite and the grains have a tiny white dot in the center. Add the remaining cup of broth as needed, until the rice is cooked through. Watch the fire to make sure it is heating evenly and adjust the pan to prevent uneven cooking.
- Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a tea towel and rest for 15 minutes before serving.
THE ULTIMATE PAELLA
For a taste of seaside Spain, serve Tyler Florence's The Ultimate Paella recipe, an authentic rice dish studded with chicken, chorizo, clams, shrimp and lobster.
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 2h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Combine the paprika and oregano in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix all over the chicken and marinate chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- Heat oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Saute the chorizo until browned, remove and reserve. Add chicken skin-side down and brown on all sides, turning with tongs. Add salt and freshly ground pepper. Remove from pan and reserve.
- In the same pan, make a sofrito by sauteing the onions, garlic, and parsley. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes on a medium heat. Then, add tomatoes and cook until the mixture caramelizes a bit and the flavors meld. Fold in the rice and stir-fry to coat the grains. Pour in water and simmer for 10 minutes, gently moving the pan around so the rice cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid. Add chicken, chorizo, and saffron. Add the clams and shrimp, tucking them into the rice. The shrimp will take about 8 minutes to cook. Give the paella a good shake and let it simmer, without stirring, until the rice is al dente, for about 15 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, when the rice is filling the pan, add the lobster tails. When the paella is cooked and the rice looks fluffy and moist, turn the heat up for 40 seconds until you can smell the rice toast at the bottom, then it's perfect.
- Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with peas, parsley and lemon wedges.
EASY PAELLA
An easy to make paella using chorizo, chicken, and shrimp.
Provided by mls
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Spanish
Time 1h
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.
- Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 736.2 calories, Carbohydrate 45.7 g, Cholesterol 202.5 mg, Fat 35.1 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 55.7 g, SaturatedFat 10.3 g, Sodium 1204.2 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
AUTHENTIC SPANISH PAELLA
This is one of my all time favorite dishes. I've been experimenting for a year now and I think I've finally got it perfect. This recipe is for an 18" pallera cooked on an open flame (a weber grill works perfectly). For a smaller pan and stovetop cooking half the recipe. Note: Some purists say an 'authentic' paella doesn't mix meat and seafood. I see it as a matter of taste, and most of the paella I've had from various regions throughout Spain has been mixed. I leave the arguments to the old men in Valencia.
Provided by parisucks
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- It's best to have all of your ingredients prepared before you start cooking.
- Prepare the rabbit by separating the legs, cutting remaining meat into small slices and lightly salting. (In my area rabbit is seasonal. During the summer and fall I substitute with chicken legs).
- I peel my shrimp, leaving only the tail and then salt them. In Spain they tend to leave the shrimp unshelled.
- I always try to make my chicken stock from scratch (time permitting), adding a bit of rosemary, a tiny pinch of saffron and a bit of thyme. If you're going to use bouillon, I'd recommend at least heating it up with these herbs and then straining before you start.
- Keep your stock hot but not boiling as you cook.
- Coat the bottom of your pallera/pan with olive oil.
- Brown your chorizo over high heat for 1-2 minutes. Do not fully cook, just get the outside well browned. Set aside. This should add a nice red color and a hell of a flavor to your oil.
- Brown the Rabbit for 2-3 minutes. It should not be fully cooked. Set aside.
- Brown garlic, onion and bell pepper until they're softened, adding plum tomatoes shortly before the mixture is finished.
- Push the vegetables to one side of the pan and on the other add the half can of tomato paste. Caramelize it, flipping it and spreading it until it begins to loosen (1-2 min over hight heat).
- Mix all of the vegetables and meats together with the caramelized tomato paste also adding the paprika, parsley and thyme.
- Add rice, mixing together and stirring as the rice browns (1-1 1/2) minutes. As the rice browns mix in the saffron. Make sure to break it between your fingers and stir it in to release all those tasty oils.
- When the rice is slightly translucent add enough chicken stock to cover the whole mixture. If it's been kept warm, it will begin to boil almost immediately. Lower to a medium heat but keep it at a steady boil.
- This is where paella is made and broken. I stir a few times in the first 5-10 minutes, adding broth as necessary to keep the rice fully covered. After this you must let the paella SIT! Let it cook another 10-20 minutes (I find that this step takes longer on a stovetop), adding broth bit by bit to keep the rice submerged until the rice on the top is al dente. Don't worry about rice burning to the bottom, this part (which actually has a name which escapes me at the moment, it's something like socarrat) is a tasty delicacy.
- Once you've stirred the paella for the last time and are letting cook, when you have about 8 minutes left to cook lay shrimp on top, turning over after 2-4 minutes to cook other side.
- When the rice on top is still quite al dente, take paella off of heat and cover. You must let it sit for 15-20 minutes. I've taken the lid off prematurely and ended up with a crunchy mess. Patience is the key.
- Once you're sure it's ready uncover, garnish with lemon wedges and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 913, Fat 28.7, SaturatedFat 9.6, Cholesterol 149.9, Sodium 1183.3, Carbohydrate 101.2, Fiber 4.7, Sugar 10.2, Protein 58.6
PAELLA
Paella is a Spanish dish traditionally made with rice, saffron, a variety of meat and shellfish, garlic, onions, peas, tomatoes and other vegetables. It's named for the wide, shallow pan it's cooked in, but I cook mine on the stovetop with delicious results.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 45m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- In a saucepan, combine the broth, rice, onion, half of the garlic, salt, turmeric, pepper and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the green pepper, onions, parsley, thyme, hot pepper sauce and remaining garlic in oil for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms. Cook until green pepper is crisp-tender. Add tomato and peas; heat through. , Discard bay leaf; add rice mixture to vegetable mixture and keep warm. In a nonstick skillet, cook and stir shrimp in lemon juice for 2 minutes. Add chicken; cook until chicken is no longer pink and shrimp has turned pink, about 3-5 minutes. Add to rice mixture; toss.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 258 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 49mg cholesterol, Sodium 591mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
BEST PAELLA
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Rub the spice mix all over the chicken and marinate chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- Heat oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Saute the chorizo until browned, remove and reserve. Add chicken skin-side down and brown on all sides, turning with tongs.
- Remove from pan and reserve. In the same pan, make a sofrito by sauteing the onions, garlic, and parsley. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes on a medium heat.
- Then, add tomatoes and cook until the mixture caramelizes a bit and the flavors meld. Fold in the rice and stir-fry to coat the grains. Pour in water and simmer for 10 minutes, gently moving the pan around so the rice cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid
- Add chicken, chorizo, clams, bell peppers and peas tucking them into the rice
- Give the paella a good shake and let it simmer, without stirring, until the rice is al dente, for about 15 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, when the rice is filling the pan add the shrimp.
- When the paella is cooked and the rice looks fluffy and moist, turn the heat up for 40 seconds until you can smell the rice toast at the bottom, then it's perfect.
- . Cook's note: The ideal paella has a toasted rice bottom called socarrat. Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with peas, parsley and lemon wedges.
Tips for Making the Best Paella:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will directly impact the flavor of your paella. Use fresh, flavorful seafood, meats, and vegetables.
- Use a wide, shallow pan: A wide, shallow pan will allow the paella to cook evenly and develop a crispy bottom.
- Cook the rice in the same pan as the other ingredients: This will help the rice absorb all the delicious flavors of the paella.
- Don't stir the rice too much: Stirring the rice too much will make it mushy. Instead, gently shake the pan back and forth to distribute the rice evenly.
- Let the paella rest before serving: This will allow the rice to absorb all the flavors and develop a more complex flavor.
Conclusion:
Paella is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and effort, you can make a paella that will impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a special dish to serve, give paella a try!
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