Paella & Rice Dishes — more than the cliché
The Paella is the most famous Spanish dish — and at the same time the most misunderstood. Because the real Paella does not come from "Spain," but from Valencia. And what is served in most tourist spots would drive a Valencian to despair.
The Real Paella Valenciana
The authentic Paella contains: rabbit, chicken, green beans (bajoqueta), large white beans (garrofón), saffron, rosemary — and not a gram of seafood. The rice (Bomba or Calasparra) is cooked in a shallow pan (Paellera) over an open fire of orange wood. The most important element: the Socarrat — the caramelized, slightly burnt rice crust at the bottom. When the Socarrat is right, the table applauds.
Other Rice Dishes
- Arroz a banda: Rice cooked in fish broth, the fish served separately (Alicante)
- Arroz negro: Black rice, colored with squid ink — looks dramatic, tastes fantastic
- Arroz caldoso: Soupy rice with lobster or shrimp — for many, the best Spanish rice dish ever
- Fideuà: Like Paella, but with thin noodles instead of rice (Gandia, Valencia)
Achtung
Never order Paella for dinner! In Spain, Paella is a <strong>lunch dish</strong> — traditionally on Sundays. Restaurants that offer Paella in the evening cater to tourists and often serve pre-made dishes. In the evening, it's tapas, fish, or meat.