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Travel and food: Spanish Paella Seafood from Valencia!

This saffron-infused easy seafood paella with shrimp and lobster is a simpler take on the traditional beloved Spanish dish with fewer ingredients and no special pan. It will deliver the WOW factor on all level, but you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to make it! And when you do, give yourself the best chance and use Authentic Spanish Paella with Seafood | Mahatma® Rice

What is Paella?

There are many theories about the origins of this delicious and comforting Spanish rice dish.

According to this History of Paella article, paella combines the Roman and Arabic cultures as Arab conquerors introduced rice in Valencia. The word “paella,” may have stemmed from the Arabic word “baquia,” which simply means “leftovers.” And it is said that this meal was introduced by Valencia farm workers as the delicious solution to leftovers. Basically, a one-pot rice meal embellished with whatever ingredients one had on hand. And that’s why, it makes perfect sense that there are many variations of it today.

In an article by The Guardian, Valencian chef Llorenç Millo is quoted saying, “paella has as many recipes as there are villages, and nearly as many as there are cooks.” To me, that makes it one of the most exciting and inviting dishes.

What is in paella?

The question that continues to be hotly debated even throughout Spain is: what’s in it?

Historically, in Valencia, this dish would have incorporated things like chicken thighs, rabbit, snails and beans (about three kinds of fresh beans). But, as mentioned earlier, paella is the mother of leftover solutions and one-pot meals, and the ingredients will vary from place to place, depending on the traditions and what ingredients are available. Nowadays, particularly in the States, paella is almost always associated with seafood.

But, two ingredients are constant:

What kind of rice to use? 

When you cook paella rice, you’re looking for the end result to be dry, separated rice and not something like a creamy risotto or a sticky rice like you would eat at a Chinese restaurant. That’s why, your choice of rice here is important.

The best rice option to use when making this dish is a medium-grain rice that can absorb the liquid while maintaining some bite and firmness. Round Spanish rice could be hard to find, but something like Goya medium grain rice (affiliate link) will work. Long-grain rice is not a good option here.

In this easy seafood paella, keep the ingredient lists short, focusing on two seafood options: shrimp and lobster. If either is not available to you, feel free to get creative using a firm fish or some mussels or clams. You can either add any chicken or chorizo, but again, if that is something you are looking for, feel free to adapt this recipe (see section below called “variations”).

And while, traditionally, this dish is cooked over open fire made of tree prunings, this easy, home-cooked version is simply cooked on the stovetop.

Can you use a wok to make paella? What pan is best?

If you have a paella pan or even a special outdoor paella grill (affiliate links), that would be ideal. But I don’t have one, and found it easy enough to use a sturdy skillet.

The important thing is that the skillet you use has a large and even surface, which aids in cooking the rice properly and quickly. That’s why a round-bottomed wok is not a good choice for making paella. It’s not impossible, but if you’re new to making this, you would have better results using a carbon steel pan or a cast iron skillet, which is what I used in this recipe.

How to make Paella: step-by-step

1- The first step here is to get the lobster cooking in boiling water. This will be quick, about 1 to 2 minutes. You don’t want to overcook the lobster, but you’re looking for it to turn a nice pink. When the lobster is cool enough to handle, remove the shell and cut into large chunks to use later.  Important: keep the lobster water for later use.

2. Preferably soak the paella rice in water a few minutes (15 to 20 minutes or so) before using, this helps it cook evenly. Then, to begin making the paella, heat 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium-high (making sure it’s shimmering but not smoking.) Saute chopped onions first for a couple minutes, then add the rice (drain first).

3- Now add a few more ingredients: garlic and the lobster cooking water first. Then the saffron and it’s soaking liquid along with spices, paprika, cayenne pepper, aleppo pepper, and salt.

Stir in the chopped tomato and green beans. Bring to a boil and let the liquid reduce, then cover (with lid or tightly with foil) and cook on low heat for 20 minutes.

4- Then add the shrimp over the rice, pushing it into the rice a little. At this point, if the rice looks to be too dry and might need a tiny bit of water, you can carefully add some. Cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the shrimp turns pink.

 Finally, add the cooked lobster chunks. When the lobster is warmed through, turn the heat off. Garnish with parsley, if you like.

How to serve it?

Paella can be served family-style with a favourite white wine to go along. Of course, adding a little something to start the meal like chilled tomato Gazpacho is always an option.

Variations

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