Best 7 Paella I Recipes

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Paella, a vibrant and flavorful dish, is a culinary masterpiece originating from the Valencia region of Spain. This delectable rice dish is characterized by its golden hues, imparted by saffron, and a symphony of flavors from an array of ingredients. Typically prepared in a large pan, paella showcases succulent seafood, tender chicken, and an assortment of vegetables, all harmoniously combined in a saffron-infused broth.

This article presents a collection of paella recipes that capture the essence of this iconic dish while offering variations to suit diverse preferences. From the classic Paella Valenciana, featuring traditional ingredients like rabbit, chicken, and green beans, to the seafood-laden Paella de Mariscos, bursting with shrimp, mussels, and calamari, each recipe promises a unique culinary experience.

For vegetarians, the Paella de Verduras offers a delightful medley of vegetables, while the Paella Negra, or black paella, surprises with its squid ink-infused rice and the distinct flavors of seafood. And for those seeking a modern twist, the Paella de Fideuà replaces rice with thin noodles, creating a delightful variation on the classic.

With step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and stunning images, these recipes guide you through the process of preparing this delectable dish, ensuring a successful and enjoyable cooking experience. Whether you're a seasoned paella enthusiast or embarking on your first paella adventure, this collection has something for everyone to savor and appreciate. Dive into the vibrant world of paella and let the flavors transport you to the heart of Spain.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

EASY SEAFOOD PAELLA RECIPE



Easy Seafood Paella Recipe image

Easy saffron-infused seafood paella recipe with lobster and shrimp! No need for a special paella pan, a large sturdy skillet like cast iron will work well. Be sure to see the tips for best results. Watch the video and step-by-step tutorial above.

Provided by The Mediterranean Dish

Categories     Entree

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 small lobster tails (6-12 oz each)
Water
3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I used Private Reserve)
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cups Spanish rice or medium-grain rice, soaked in water for 20 minutes and then drained
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 large pinches of Spanish saffron threads soaked in 1/2 cup water
1 tsp Sweet Spanish paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp chile pepper flakes (I used aleppo pepper)
Salt
2 large Roma tomatoes, finely chopped
6 oz French green beans, trimmed
1 lb prawns or large shrimp or your choice, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • In a large pot, bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add the lobster tails and let boil very briefly (1-2 minutes) until pink. Turn the heat off. Remove the lobster tails with a pair of tongs. Do not discard the lobster cooking water. When the lobster is cool enough to handle, remove the shell and cut into large chunks.
  • In a large deep pan or cast iron skillet, heat 3 tbsp olive oil. Turn the heat to medium-high and add the chopped onions. Saute the onions for 2 minutes then add the rice, and cook for 3 more minutes, stirring regularly. Now add the chopped garlic and the lobster cooking water. Stir in the saffron and it's soaking liquid, paprika, cayenne pepper, aleppo pepper, and salt. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and green beans. Bring to a boil and let the liquid slightly reduce, then cover (with lid or tightly with foil) and cook on low heat for 20 minutes.
  • Uncover and spread the shrimp over the rice, pushing it into the rice slightly. Add a little water if needed. Cover and cook for another 10 minutes or until the shrimp turns pink. Finally, add the cooked lobster chunks. When the lobster is warmed through, turn heat off. Garnish with parsley.
  • Serve the paella hot with your favorite white wine.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 516 calories, Sugar 4.3 g, Sodium 862.3 mg, Fat 21.6 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, TransFat 0.1 g, Carbohydrate 61.5 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 41.1 g, Cholesterol 190.1 mg

EASY PAELLA



Easy Paella image

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

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
salt and black pepper to taste
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
1 pinch saffron threads
1 bay leaf
½ bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 quart chicken stock
2 lemons, zested
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed and crumbled
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

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

PAELLA I



Paella I image

A very traditional paella, garnished with chorizo, chicken, peas, squid, mussels, and shrimp. Chorizo is a sausage spiced with garlic and chili powder; remove casing before cooking. A paella pan is recommended.

Provided by Christine

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Spanish

Time 1h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 20

4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 ounces Spanish chorizo (cured spiced pork sausage), casing discarded and sausage cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
1 (12 ounce) package uncooked Arborio rice
5 cups chicken broth
½ cup white wine
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 pinch saffron
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
2 squid, cleaned and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
½ cup frozen green peas
12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 pound mussels, cleaned and debearded
¼ cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
8 slices lemon, for garnish

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in paella pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and pepper; cook and stir for a few minutes. Add chorizo sausage, diced chicken, and rice; cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 3 1/2 cups stock, wine, thyme leaves, and saffron. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, and simmer for 15 minutes; stir occasionally.
  • Taste the rice, and check to see if it is cooked. If the rice is uncooked, stir in 1/2 cup more stock. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally. Stir in additional stock if necessary: use up to 2 cups additional stock, 5 cups total. Cook until rice is done.
  • Stir in squid, tomatoes, and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Arrange prawns and mussels on top. Cover with foil, and leave for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove the foil, and scatter parsley over the food. Serve in paella pan, garnished with lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 524.1 calories, Carbohydrate 56.6 g, Cholesterol 106 mg, Fat 18.2 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 28.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 1162.2 mg, Sugar 4.8 g

THE ULTIMATE PAELLA



The Ultimate Paella image

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

Chicken:
1 tablespoon sweet or smoked paprika
2 teaspoons oregano
1 (3 pound) frying chicken, cut into 10 pieces
Paella:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Spanish chorizo sausages, thickly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 Spanish onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
Bunch flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped, reserve some for garnish
1 (15-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained and hand-crushed
4 cups short grain Spanish rice
6 cups water, warm
Generous pinch saffron threads
1 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed
1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and de-veined
2 lobster tails
1/2 cup sweet peas, frozen and thawed
Lemon wedges, for serving

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.

PAELLA



Paella image

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 pound tomatoes
9 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 cups short or medium-grain rice
20 threads saffron
2 sprigs rosemary, leaves stripped from sprigs
3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds bone-in, skin-on, chicken thighs and legs
3 pounds bone-in, skin-on, chicken thighs and legs
1/2 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced

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.

EASY PAELLA



Easy paella image

Whip up this easy version of the traditional Spanish seafood dish straight from the storecupboard. Add extras such as chorizo and peas if you like

Provided by Jane Hornby

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp each hot smoked paprika and dried thyme
300g paella or risotto rice
3 tbsp dry sherry or white wine (optional)
400g can chopped tomatoes with garlic
900ml chicken stock
400g frozen seafood mix
1 lemon, ½ juiced, ½ cut into wedges
handful of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add the onion and soften for 5 mins.
  • Add the smoked paprika, thyme and paella rice, stir for 1 min, then splash in the sherry, if using. Once evaporated, stir in the chopped tomatoes and chicken stock.
  • Season and cook, uncovered, for about 15 mins, stirring now and again until the rice is almost tender and still surrounded with some liquid.
  • Stir in the seafood mix and cover with a lid. Simmer for 5 mins, or until the seafood is cooked through and the rice is tender. Squeeze over the lemon juice, scatter over the parsley and serve with the lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 431 calories, Fat 5 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 66 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 34 grams protein, Sodium 2.1 milligram of sodium

EASY PAELLA



Easy Paella image

You don't need a special paella pan to make this easy take on the classic Spanish dish. Use a wide, shallow saute pan with a lid. Chicken sausage and shrimp star in this one-pan dinner.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12 ounces) chicken sausage, sliced in 1/2-inch rounds
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed

Steps:

  • In a heavy 12-inch saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp until just pink on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes (do not overcook). Transfer to a plate.
  • Add remaining tablespoon oil and sausage to pan; cook over medium-high heat until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and rice; cook, stirring to coat, until rice is translucent, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Stir in paprika, turmeric, tomatoes, and broth, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover, and cook until rice is tender and has absorbed almost all liquid, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in peas; cook 1 minute. Stir in cooked shrimp; serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 338 g, Fat 10 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 20 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the flavor of your paella. Use the best quality rice, seafood, and vegetables that you can find.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan: When cooking paella, it's important to not overcrowd the pan. This will prevent the rice from cooking evenly and will make it more difficult to get a good soccarat (the crispy layer of rice at the bottom of the pan).
  • Use a wide, shallow pan: A wide, shallow pan is ideal for cooking paella. This will allow the rice to spread out evenly and will help to create a nice soccarat.
  • Cook the rice in stages: Cooking the rice in stages is essential for getting a perfect paella. Start by cooking the rice in the olive oil until it is translucent. Then, add the stock and bring it to a boil. Once the liquid has been absorbed, reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Allow the rice to cook undisturbed for about 15 minutes, or until it is tender and has absorbed all of the liquid.
  • Add the seafood and vegetables: Once the rice is cooked, add the seafood and vegetables. Cook them until they are tender, but not overcooked.
  • Serve immediately: Paella is best served immediately after it is cooked. This will ensure that the rice is still tender and flavorful.

Conclusion:

Paella is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a perfect meal for a party or a special occasion. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily make a delicious paella at home. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give paella a try!

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