Valencian Paella
Time Required
Preparation time ≈ 40 mins
Preparation time depends on the quantity of ingredients to be cut and therefore the number of guests.
Cooking time ≈ 45 mins
The cooking time starts when the first ingredients are cooked.
Ingredients for 10 people
CHICKEN 1 kg
You can use thighs, wings or even thighs.
RABBIT 0,7 Kg
The rabbit should be cut into pieces of equal size.
VALENCIAN RICE 20 poignées
You must use Valencian PDO rice. It should be round and small. Allow two handfuls per person. This is approximately equivalent to 1 kg of rice.
Flat white beans 500 g
These are Valencian beans, called "Garrofós" or "Garrofons." They are difficult to find in some countries.
Flat green beans 500 g
The Valencian recipe uses flat green beans. They are called "ferradura" in Valencian.
SAFFRON 30 brins
This spice is essential for making paella. It is approximately the equivalent of 2 pinches of saffron.
Tomatoes 2 to 3 pieces
You need to grate the tomatoes to create a sort of crushed tomato base.
Olive oil
It is forbidden to use any other vegetable oil!
WATER betwenn 3 and 4l
The water is used to cook the rice at the end of preparation.
Salt & pepper
In the kitchen, seasoning is not negotiable!
Paprika
You can add a little paprika to enhance the taste.
Easily get the amount of ingredients you need
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The recipe: Instructions
Preparation of ingredients
Before starting a paella, you must prepare the ingredients that will make it up!
- Clean the vegetables.
- Cut the beans.
- Grate the tomatoes to create a crushed tomato base.
- Cut the chicken and rabbit into uniform pieces.
Cooking the ingredients
Each food must be heated separately in the pan to fully enjoy their flavors. This step is the heart of a paella!
- Olive oil is poured on before starting to cook the ingredients.
- When the olive oil is hot, start cooking the meat. The goal is to brown the ingredients with olive oil. The cooking juices will then give the paella a delicious flavor. You can add the chicken and rabbit at the same time or separately. If one meat is cooked before the other, set it aside to avoid overcooking. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper. When the meat is ready, set it aside.
- Start cooking the green and white beans, and the tomato base. Enjoy the meat juices, which will give them a little more flavor. If you want to add paprika, use it now. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper. Be careful: if you’re using pre-cooked beans, don’t add them at this stage, but at the same time as the caldo.
Preparing the caldo
Caldo is the broth that cooks the rice. There are dozens of ways to make caldo. It takes at least 30 minutes for it to be delicious.
- If you reserved the meats in a container, return them to the pan. If you are using pre-cooked beans, add them now. Be careful not to overcook them, as they will break down.
- Start the broth by heating the water in the paella pan. Prepare more than necessary, as some liquid will evaporate during cooking. You can fill it past the screws on the pan handles! This is often used as a guide! Add the saffron as well.
- Reduce over high heat. There should only be enough water left to cook the rice. Check the seasoning and add salt if necessary.
Cooking rice
We're going to start cooking the rice now.
- The broth is brewing. Take this opportunity to check the rice cooker’s recommended cooking time. Generally, it takes between 18 and 20 minutes.
- When the water reaches the screws, it is time to insert the rice. Add the rice to the pan. Start by cooking it over high heat for about 10 minutes. Be careful, in a real paella, do not touch the ingredients once they are added to the rice.
- Then reduce the heat to gently finish cooking for about 9 minutes.
- In the final moments, the heat is quickly revived to create the “socarrat.” This is the term used to describe the kind of toasted rice crust that forms at the end of cooking.
Rest time
When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let the paella rest for a few minutes. You can cover it with aluminum foil. This will help finish cooking the rice if it is not completely cooked in any spots.
Good to know
In some Valencian paellas, you sometimes find snails that are added in the last five minutes of cooking the rice.
It's ready! Enjoy your meal!
It’s possible to prepare paella by simplifying certain steps. Discover the different cooking methods for beginners and expert cooks.
What utensils do you need to make paella?