Like many comfort foods, paella (pie-ay-ah) was once considered peasants food. It has since risen to become one of the most popular and iconic dishes of Spanish cuisine.
There are many different variations of paella, however, two ingredients are consistent: saffron and bomba rice.
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and can only be harvested by hand. A pound of saffron can cost up to $10,000.
Authentic bomba rice is only grown in the town of Calasparra, Spain. The rice planted there takes longer to mature because of the cool mountain water flowing through the foothills. A denser, more absorbent grain is the result; perfect for absorbing rich broth.
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SPECIALTY INGREDIENTS LIST:
Spanish Paella Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Paella rice (or calasparra)
- 17 oz Diced tomatoes
- 3 cups Chicken broth (or seafood broth)
- 1 tsp Smoked sweet paprika
- ⅛ tsp Saffron
- 2 tsp Garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Lemon (optional)
Toppings (choose as many as you like):
- 1 cup Mixed seafood shrimp, mussels, clams
- 1 cup Soy chorizo (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup Chorizo (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup Chicken (bitesize pieces)
- 4 oz Pimientos
- 6 oz Marinated artichoke hearts (quartered)
Instructions
Prep Ingredients:
- Open and drain pimientos.
- Prepare your proteins for cooking (clean and cut into bitesize pieces).
- Open diced tomatoes and artichokes, if adding.
Prepare the Broth:
- In a medium pot, add 3 cups broth, smoked sweet paprika, and saffron.
- Stir well and bring to a boil on high heat.
- Continue to the next step while the broth boils…
Create Tomato Base:
- In a large sauté or paella pan, heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil on medium heat. Tip: for a stronger flavor, add some artichoke marinade into your olive oil here.
- Add the diced tomatoes and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add Rice, Chorizo & Broth:
- Pour paella rice into tomato base; stir to fully coat.
- Add your protein, pimientos (if adding), and sea salt. Tip: if using delicate seafood, add during the next step.
- Slowly pour all the broth from the "Prepare the Broth" step into the paella and stir until the broth is evenly distributed throughout the pan. Note: it will seem watery at this point!
Arrange Delicate Toppings & Simmer:
- Important: do not stir the paella after this point!
- Lower heat to medium-low & simmer for 20-25 min., uncovered, until the broth has nearly been absorbed.
- Arrange the drained artichokes (if using) and any delicate seafood on top of paella.
- Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for another 10 minutes.
Plate & Enjoy!
- Uncover the paella and serve! Note: you may notice a slight caramelization on the bottom of the pan – this is the sign of an excellent paella.
- Sprinkle with (optional) lemon for an extra burst of flavor.
- Enhance your experience with a Spanish music playlist (takeoutkit.com/playlists).
- Enjoy your meal! “¡Buen provecho!”