Paella, a traditional Spanish rice dish from Valencia, is considered to be one of the top 10 most popular dishes around the world. To be completely transparent, I never really understood the fanfare about paella. I always thought that the dish was tasty, but not amazing. However, things took a turn, after my recent trip to Spain.
In Spain I not only learned that there were many different types of paella, but I realized how much I like it. I don’t know if there was anything wrong with the frozen grocery packs, but there sure is a difference between that versus the authentic and rich paella in Spain.
The beautiful aspect of paella is that there are different combinations of ingredients you can use for the dish. For instance, you can use different types of beans, vegetables, meats, seafood, spices, rice, and more! Nevertheless, the way paella is cooked can vary nowadays. However, the traditional way of cooking the dish, as some call it the best, is to place a round pan that contains the delicious food over a wood fire. Now, let me break down my top three favorite paellas I had in Spain!
Valencian Paella I had in Arzúa. (Summer Park / HS Insider)
First, in Arzúa, a town in Northwestern Spain, I had one of the most popular paellas called Paella Valenciana.
In 2021, the Valencian government established a protective status for Paella Valenciana indicating its symbolic cultural significance to the Valencian culture. In addition, the variety of different meats that can be used is the reason for its great popularity over the globe.
Along with using different spices and vegetables, you can add any meat such as chicken, rabbit, or duck. Some people even add snails as their meat. I’ve never eaten rabbits and would like to keep it that way for a while. In turn, I ate a delicious Valencian Paella that contained chicken, lentil beans, deliciously flavored yellow rice, and vegetables.
Arroz Negro I had in Madrid. (Summer Park / HS Insider)
Next, in Madrid, the capital city of Spain, I had Arroz Negro, which translates to Black Rice.
This paella intrigued me the most because I had never seen black rice. Yes, I have seen purple rice, the one that many Korean people eat, but I have never seen black rice initially. I was so shocked and I couldn’t believe that there was such a thing as black rice. As a result, I listened to my curious instincts and decided to put the paella up for taste. Surprisingly, it was pretty good, as I was expecting to get an unsatisfactory taste from it.
Along with the color, the first thing that stuck out to me was the flavor. For me, instead of having the same effect of flavor from the rice and the separate ingredients, the seafood had a dominant flavor. Squeezing a lemon over the paella shortly after, added a tint of flavor to the rice.
Paella de Marisco I had in Madrid. (Summer Park / HS Insider)
In Madrid, in addition to the black rice, I also ordered Paella de Marisco which is known as seafood paella. This was personally my favorite type of paella I had in Spain.
Although the paella looks similar to the first paella I had in Arzúa, there is a vast difference of flavor between the two dishes. There was a sparking flavor in the seafood paella that my tongue had never tasted, but it was a flavor I had been longing for. I can’t even describe how rich this paella was. Since it tasted so flavorful, different sets of emotions filled up in me, causing me to become teary-eyed. Even my friend beside me asked me if I was okay and thought something had happened. Inside this paella includes extremely flavorful orange rice along with peas, cut-up pieces of squid, clam, shrimp, and pepper.
Ultimately, paella is more than just a dish; it’s a celebration of Spain’s rich culinary heritage and a testament to the country’s vibrant culture. Each bite tells a story of tradition, passion, and a love for fresh, local ingredients. Whether you enjoy it with seafood, chicken, or vegetables, paella brings people together, transforming any meal into a festive occasion. So, gather your friends and family, and savor the experience of making and sharing this iconic Spanish dish.
¡Buen provecho!
