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What is Paella?
Paella is a classic Spanish rice dish made with rice, saffron, vegetables, chicken, rabbit, 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. It is a rice-based dish that is usually made with saffron, which gives it a distinct yellow colour and distinctive flavour.
Making the Paella
The dish is typically cooked in a large, shallow pan called a paellera. The pan is heated over a fire or stovetop, and ingredients are added in stages. The rice is usually added first, along with onions, garlic, and other vegetables. Then, the meat or seafood is added, along with various seasonings and spices.
This is a Spicy Dish
One of the key ingredients in paella is saffron, which is a spice derived from the crocus flower. Saffron is expensive and can be difficult to find, but it is essential to the flavour and colour of the dish. Other seasonings and
spices that are commonly used in paella include paprika, rosemary, and thyme.
Served as a Main Course
Paella is often served as a main course, but it can also be served as an appetizer or side dish. It is typically accompanied by a glass of wine, such as white or red Rioja.
Paella is a Visually Striking Dish.
In addition to its delicious flavour, paella is also a visually striking dish. The bright yellow rice and colourful array of meats and vegetables make it a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. Whether you’re a fan of seafood, chicken, or rabbit, paella is a dish that will satisfy all.
How to Make the Spanish Paella
Ingredients:
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 vegetable or chicken stock cube, made up to 600ml 3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 125g chorizo, roughly chopped 500g boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (or a mix), chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped 2 tsp paprika 250g Spanish paella rice 4 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped 75g frozen peas 250g cooked prawns with shells on (thawed if frozen) and rinsed small handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped, to serve chopped lemon wedges, to serve
Step By Step Instructions on how to Make Spanish Paella
Method:
- Stir the saffron strands into the stock and set aside to infuse while you prepare the rest of the paella.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a paella pan or a large deep frying pan with a lid. Tip in the chorizo and fry for about 3 mins until crisp and the oil has been released. Remove the chorizo and drain on kitchen paper, leaving the oil in the pan.
- Stir the chicken into the pan and fry over a high heat for 7-8 mins, or until the meat is golden and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a bowl and set aside.
- Pour another 1 tbsp of oil into the pan, tip in the chopped onion and garlic and stir-fry for 4-5 mins, until softened and just starting to colour. Stir in the pepper and paprika with the remaining tablespoon of oil and stir-fry for a further 1-2 mins. The pan should have lots of crispy, brown bits on the bottom, which will all add flavour.
- With the heat still quite high, quickly stir in the rice so it is well-coated in the oil, then pour in the saffron-infused stock plus 450ml boiling water, scraping up the sticky brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
- Return the browned chicken pieces to the pan, then add the chopped tomatoes. Cover the pan and cook on a medium heat for 10 mins, stirring once or twice. Scatter the peas, prawns and fried chorizo over the top, cover again and leave to cook a further 5-10 mins, or until the rice is just cooked and most of the liquid in the pan has been absorbed.
- Remove the pan from the heat, put the lid on and leave to rest for 5 mins. Stir a few times to mix the ingredients, season to taste and scatter over the chopped parsley. Serve with lemon wedges and an extra drizzle of oil, if you like.
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