Paella

Paella

Paella

Spain's iconic saffron rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan — loaded with rabbit and chicken (Valenciana), seafood, or mixed, finished with a coveted socarrat crust at the bottom.

Cuisines

Spanish

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Build a full meal around Paella

Get a matched combo of sides and accents

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Rice 1 cup Rice , Bomba or short-grain
olive oil 2 tablespoons Olive oil
Onion 1 Onion , finely chopped
Garlic 2 cloves Garlic , minced
Red Bell Pepper 1 Red Bell Pepper , sliced
Tomato 1 Tomato , diced
smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon Smoked paprika
Saffron 1/4 teaspoon Saffron , threads
Broth 3 cups Broth
Chicken Thigh 200 grams Chicken Thigh , cut into pieces
Shrimp 150 grams Shrimp , peeled and deveined
Mussel 100 grams Mussel , cleaned
Calamari 100 grams Calamari , sliced into rings
Pea 1/2 cup Pea , frozen
salt Salt , to taste
Black Pepper Black Pepper , to taste
Cut Into Wedge For Serving 1 lemon Cut Into Wedge For Serving
Parsley 2 tablespoons Parsley , fresh, chopped

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat olive oil in a large paella pan over medium heat.
  2. 2 Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
  3. 3 In the same pan, add the onion and garlic, sauté until the onion is translucent.
  4. 4 Add the red bell pepper and tomato, cooking until the tomato softens.
  5. 5 Stir in the smoked paprika and saffron threads, cooking for another minute.
  6. 6 Add the rice and stir well to coat the grains with the oil and spices.
  7. 7 Pour in the broth and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. 8 Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
  9. 9 Return the chicken pieces to the pan, arranging them evenly.
  10. 10 After 10 minutes, add the shrimp, mussels, and calamari, tucking them into the rice.
  11. 11 Scatter the peas over the top and continue to cook until the rice is tender and the seafood is cooked through, about 10-15 minutes.
  12. 12 Remove the pan from the heat and cover with a clean kitchen towel.
  13. 13 Let the paella rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  14. 14 Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Tips

For a more authentic flavor, cook the paella over an open flame or grill if possible.