Paella’s history
Paella is a Spanish rice dish made with vegetables and meats. It is often made from chicken, rabbit or seafood, which are also traditional Spanish recipes. This dish links two cultures in Spain. The Romans created the pan and the Arabs brought the rice.
A story from many centuries ago tells of a Moor king who had his servants make rice dishes using leftovers from royal banquets. They would then take the cooked rice home in large pots. Paella is derived from the Arabian phrase baqiyah, which means leftovers. This dish has a long history.
Many who enjoy a good paella will share their Roman and Arabian roots. It is widely accepted that this dish originated in Valencia, an eastern Spanish coastal city. Valenciano is the local language, closely related to Catalan. Valencian words include paella. When describing the pan, most Spaniards would use paellera. The word Patella is Latin for pan. An old French word, paelle, is used to describe a frying pan. We get paella from Valenciano, which is closely related to French.
The common belief is that paella was invented in Valencia by farmworkers. For simplicity, lots of rice and leftovers. Short vacations to Spain’s country regions became a favourite pastime of wealthy Valencians in the 19th century. The provincial dish was introduced to these wealthy Valencians! It was dressed up with chicken and saffron, and soon became the iconic paella Valenciana.
The dish quickly became a hit and was often served with seafood. Although seafood is the most popular, this version is more modern and upmarket than the original.
What is a paella pan?
These pans are both wide and shallow. These pans are designed so that heat is evenly distributed. This allows liquids to evaporate quickly and creates the golden-brown crust on your rice’s rock bottom. This crust is a must-have for any good dish!
A lid is not necessary for pans. They trap moisture and can cause damage to the dish. This pan is ideal for many purposes due to its excellent heat conduction.
Guide to the pan size:
- Four to six servings are recommended for a 16-inch pan.
- Recommended: 6-8 servings in an 18-inch pan.
- Recommended serving size: 22-inch pan. The most popular.
- Recommended for 26-inch pans: 12-20.
- Recommended serving size: 32 inches for over 20 servings.
Chef’s Hat offers a variety of paella pans and it is easy to order one online. If you live in Melbourne, Australia, we are near South Morgan Market. Otherwise, you can order online at https://www.chefshat.com.au/
Simple and typical recipe
Ingredients
- 2 or 3 cloves garlic, finely peeled and chopped.
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped.
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped.
- 1/2 of a bunch parsley (chopped).
- 70g best chorizo (coarsely chop).
- 2 chicken thigh fillets (chop).
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
- 1 teaspoon sweet-smoked paprika.
- 1 red capsicum (deseeded, chopped).
- 1 cup tomato puree.
- 1 cube hen inventory.
- 300 grams Long grain or Bomba rice.
- 100g frozen peas.
- 200g frozen or fresh peeled cooked prawns.
- 1 lemon.
Place oil in a pan and heat on medium heat. Peel the onion, carrot, chicken, chorizo and garlic and fry for approximately five minutes, stirring frequently.
Stir in the red capsicum. Then add the tomato puree. Add the chicken stock cube and rice. Continue stirring for about one minute.
Add 750ml boiling water to the saucepan. Then it is time to add freshly ground black pepper and sea salt. You can also use powdered salt or table salt.
Mix all ingredients together with the peas, prawns, and place it on low heat. Let it cook slowly. The dish should be done after 30 minutes.
These pans can be used for many purposes. They are not just great for making paella. These pans can be used as frying pans, and you can cook many dishes with them. To ensure your pan lasts a long time, don’t use a metal spoon to stir the food. This can cause permanent scratching.
Risotto, a Mediterranean rice dish, is often confused with paella. While both dishes use the same absorption method for cooking rice, they are quite different. Paella doesn’t require constant stirring, while risotto must be stirred constantly. Risotto should be cooked in a large pot. I don’t recommend cooking risotto with a paella pan.
Practice makes perfect. There are many types of paella. I’ve already mentioned Seafood and Valencia. But Squid paella is also gaining popularity. It is dark or black in colour and comes in many flavours. Vegetarian and vegan versions of paella are also becoming more popular. No matter what your preference, you must use a paella pan to make this dish. If you’re like me, I use large-sized paella pans and invite friends over to help me prepare the dish. The pan is then placed on the dinner table. It is a unique dish that has an appealing appeal and wow factor. It is great for table conversation and can be enjoyed with a glass of wine.
Add chopped parsley to the mixture. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy! Enjoy!
