Paella

Most food historians believe that paella originated in the area around the city of Valencia on the east coast of Spain. The dish is said to have originated with the Moorish people who occupied Spain between the 8th and 15th centuries. Paella is thought to have evolved from a dish made by the Romans called pila, which was a type of rice dish cooked in a shallow earthenware pan.

Over time, the dish evolved and changed to reflect the different cultures that occupied Spain. For example, during the Moorish occupation, saffron was added to the dish to give it a more exotic flavor. Once the Spaniards regained control of the country, they added ingredients such as chicken, rabbit, and snails to the dish.

Today, there are many different types of paella recipes, each reflecting the different regions of Spain where the dish is popular. For example, in the Valencia region, seafood is often added to the dish, while in the Catalan region, sausage and vegetables are more common ingredients. No matter what ingredients are used, paella is always cooked in a large, shallow pan over an open fire.

Advice

When making paella, it is important to follow the recipe carefully and use the correct ingredients for the best results. Start by sautéing the vegetables for a few minutes until they are softened, then adding the rice and stirring it until it is completely coated with the vegetables and oil. Next, add the broth and seasonings and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Finally, add the seafood and let the paella cook for another 10 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through and the seafood is cooked through. Enjoy your delicious paella!

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Vegetable Paella With Chorizo

  • green onion
  • salt
  • pea
  • grain paella rice
  • onion
  • smoked paprika
  • cured spanish chorizo sausage
  • tomato paste
  • brussels sprout
  • olive oil
  • cauliflower
  • chicken broth
  • garlic
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Spanish Paella

  • paprika
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • saffron thread
  • pea
  • mussel
  • shrimp
  • olive oil
  • parsley
  • white wine
  • spanish rice
  • tomato
  • chicken thigh
  • garlic
  • chicken broth
  • calamari ring
  • bay leaf
  • lemon
  • salt
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Mixed Sausage Paella

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • spanish smoked paprika
  • onion
  • spanish short grain rice
  • bell pepper
  • tomato
  • parsley
  • saffron thread
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • chicken stock
  • chorizo
  • garlic sausage
  • merguez
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Easy Lobster Paella

  • kielbasa
  • salt
  • parsley
  • black pepper
  • pea
  • onion
  • lobster meat
  • saffron thread
  • licorice liqueur
  • olive oil
  • red pepper flake
  • white basmati rice
  • garlic
  • lemon
  • bell pepper
  • chicken stock
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Paella de marisco

  • aglio spicchio
  • calamari
  • cipolle
  • cozze
  • fumetto di crostacei
  • gamberi
  • olio extravergine 'oliva
  • paprika dolce
  • passata di pomodoro
  • pepe nero
  • peperoncino dolce
  • riso bomba
  • sale fino
  • scampi
  • zafferano
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Mushroom Paella with Kale and Eggs

  • calabrian chile oil
  • salt
  • white wine
  • porcini mushroom
  • crimini mushroom
  • olive oil
  • thyme
  • salt
  • kale
  • carrot
  • celery
  • onion
  • onion
  • short grain spanish rice
  • crimini mushroom
  • poblano pepper
  • bell pepper
  • parsley
  • black peppercorn
  • garlic
  • egg
  • thyme
  • olive oil
  • parsley
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Paella With Shrimp and Fava Beans

  • salt
  • pimentón
  • bay leaf
  • onion
  • thyme
  • onion
  • saffron
  • short grain rice
  • shrimp
  • garlic
  • shucked
  • spanish chorizo
  • andcups hot shrimp broth
  • garlic
  • olive oil
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Seafood Paella

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • onion
  • bell pepper
  • serrano chile
  • olive oil
  • shrimp
  • littleneck clam
  • sherry
  • hot smoked spanish paprika
  • saffron thread
  • parsley
  • paprika
  • short grain rice
  • lemon
  • orange zest
  • garlic
  • chicken broth
  • haricots vert
  • pancetta
  • spring onion
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Chicken and Seafood Paella

  • seafood stock
  • carrot
  • celery
  • bell pepper
  • white wine
  • chorizo
  • saffron dissolved
  • green onion
  • tomato
  • onion
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • ham hock
  • arborio rice
  • garlic
  • canola oil
  • clam
  • mussel
  • scallop
  • chicken thigh
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Skillet Grilled Seafood and Chorizo Paella.

  • salt
  • spanish smoked paprika
  • red pepper
  • onion
  • blue cheese stuffed green olife
  • white wine
  • seafood
  • saffron
  • basmati rice
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • chicken thigh
  • tomato
  • chicken broth
  • spanish chorizo
  • parsley
  • lemons juice
  • white truffle oil
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Spanish Paella

  • pea
  • saffron thread
  • onion
  • red capsicum bell pepper
  • paella rice
  • olive oil
  • mussel
  • prawn
  • tomato
  • lemon
  • squid
  • garlic
  • chicken thigh
  • chicken broth
  • chorizo
  • parsley
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Paella Para Dos: Paella for Two

  • garlic
  • artichoke
  • lemon
  • saffron
  • navy bean
  • pea
  • bell pepper
  • tomato
  • onion
  • bell pepper
  • eggplant
  • pork loin
  • sweet bell pepper
  • calamari
  • chicken drumstick
  • broth
  • olive oil
  • mussel
  • clam
  • shrimp
  • salt
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Chicken and Seafood Paella

  • seafood stock
  • carrot
  • celery
  • bell pepper
  • white wine
  • chorizo
  • saffron dissolved
  • green onion
  • tomato
  • onion
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • ham hock
  • arborio rice
  • garlic
  • canola oil
  • clam
  • mussel
  • scallop
  • chicken thigh
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Paella

  • brodo vegetale
  • calamari puliti
  • cipolle
  • mazzancolle
  • olio extravergine di oliva
  • peperoni rossi
  • petto di pollo pezzetti
  • pomodori
  • riso
  • sale fino
  • scampi
  • zafferano bustina
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Seafood Paella

  • shrimp
  • garlic
  • thyme
  • smoked paprika
  • bay leaf
  • lemon
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • arborio rice
  • white wine
  • black mussel
  • saffron thread
  • tomato
  • parsley
  • seafood broth
  • olive oil
  • pea
  • chorizo
  • salt
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Chicken-Chorizo Paella

  • salt
  • spanish onion
  • chicken wing
  • garlic
  • saffron thread
  • vegetable oil
  • bay leaf
  • chicken thigh
  • calasparra rice
  • ketchup
  • carrot
  • celery
  • spanish chorizo
  • black peppercorn
  • black olife
  • spanish onion
  • pea
  • tomato paste
  • olive oil
  • smoked spanish paprika
  • piquillo pepper
  • garlic
  • bay leaf
  • bell pepper
  • spanish onion
  • celery
  • juniper berry
  • thyme
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Skillet Chicken and Chorizo Paella

  • parsley
  • lemon
  • sweet pea
  • chicken thigh
  • olive oil
  • rice
  • salt
  • tomato
  • bell pepper
  • black pepper
  • saffron thread
  • smoked paprika
  • lower chicken broth
  • onion
  • garlic
  • cured spanish chorizo
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Vegetarian Paella

  • Paella
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • artichoke heart
  • tin sweet red pepper
  • onion
  • pea
  • sweet paprika
  • green bean
  • zucchini
  • saffron thread
  • garlic
  • carrot
  • calasparra rice
  • olive oil
  • hot vegetable stock
  • Sofrito
  • salt
  • tomato
  • onion
  • herbes de provence
  • olive oil
  • red wine
  • garlic
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Chorizo and Shrimp Paella

  • back burner stock
  • salt
  • radish sprout
  • green olife
  • spanish chorizo
  • saffron thread
  • lemon
  • onion
  • bomba rice
  • sugar
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • smoked paprika
  • celery
  • tomato
  • rose wine
  • garlic
  • shrimp
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Chicken Paella

  • salt
  • castelvetrano olife
  • dark chili powder
  • lemon
  • thyme
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • cilantro
  • cumin
  • celery
  • olive oil
  • olive oil
  • coriander
  • grain rice
  • garlic
  • avocado
  • marjoram
  • tomato puree
  • chicken stock
  • chicken thigh
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Mid Week Paella

  • tomato
  • spanish calasparra rice
  • olive oil
  • paprika
  • brown onion
  • red capsicum bell pepper
  • chicken stock broth
  • parsley
  • pea
  • chorizo
  • spinach
  • garlic
  • chicken thigh
  • salt
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Chicken-Chorizo Paella

  • grain white rice
  • marinated spanish olife
  • white wine
  • onion
  • saffron thread
  • orange bell pepper
  • bell pepper
  • defrosted green pea
  • salt
  • smoked paprika
  • chile powder
  • black pepper
  • red pepper flake
  • chicken broth
  • chicken breast
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • parsley
  • tomato
  • chorizo
  • lemon serve
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Shellfish Paella with Fregola

  • salt
  • sherry
  • fava bean
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • fish stock
  • bell pepper
  • rosemary
  • tomato
  • olive oil
  • saffron thread
  • littleneck clam
  • mussel
  • fregola
  • bay leaf
  • dill
  • plum tomato
  • shrimp
  • squid
  • monkfish
  • thyme
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Seafood Paella

  • pepper
  • pea
  • chorizo
  • littleneck clam
  • mussel
  • paprika
  • lump crabmeat
  • olive oil
  • arborio
  • parsley
  • saffron thread
  • onion
  • vegetable stock
  • garlic
  • sole
  • chicken thigh
  • squid
  • salt
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"Ayuh" Seafood Paella

  • black pepper
  • onion
  • garlic
  • brandy
  • lobster
  • saffron
  • red pepper
  • pea
  • tomato
  • bell pepper
  • lemon
  • chorizo
  • shrimp
  • broth
  • chicken breast
  • maine scallop
  • salt
  • grain rice
  • olive oil
  • maine mussel
  • paprika
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Grilled Seafood Paella

  • parsley
  • salt
  • piquillo pepper
  • white wine
  • tomato paste
  • smoked paprika
  • onion
  • littleneck clam
  • vegetable oil
  • paprika
  • rice
  • garlic
  • shellfish stock
  • shrimp
  • pancetta
  • fluke
  • sugar snap pea
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Poor Man's Paella

  • salt
  • pea
  • tomato
  • cilantro
  • ham steak
  • onion
  • cumin
  • olive oil
  • bell pepper
  • grain rice
  • annatto seed
  • garlic
  • chicken stock
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Spring-Vegetable Paella

  • pea
  • water
  • garlic
  • onion
  • tomato
  • salt
  • parsley
  • f asparagus
  • pimiento
  • turmeric
  • marinated artichoke heart
  • cannellini bean
  • rice
  • olive oil
  • chicken broth
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Chicken and Shrimp Paella

  • mushroom
  • red pepper
  • shrimp
  • salt
  • spanish smoked paprika
  • onion
  • lemon
  • pea
  • parsley
  • green onion
  • saffron thread
  • tomato
  • short grain rice
  • soy sauce
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • chicken thigh
  • chicken broth
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Philippine Paella

  • cilantro
  • salt
  • prawn
  • green onion
  • tomato paste
  • olive oil
  • sticky rice
  • manila clam
  • mussel
  • smoked paprika
  • spanish onion
  • garlic
  • chorizo
  • clam juice
  • coconut milk
  • jasmine rice
  • hard-boiled egg
  • chicken stock
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Andean Paella (Quinoa Paella)

  • lemon
  • salt
  • chorizo
  • lima bean
  • thickly bacon
  • cannellini bean
  • onion
  • quinoa
  • parsley
  • olive oil
  • tomato
  • bell pepper
  • chicken stock
  • garlic
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Simple Spring Paella

  • pepper
  • water
  • salt
  • saffron
  • bomba rice
  • pea
  • morel
  • shrimp
  • chive
  • parsley
  • tomato paste
  • pimentón de la vera
  • onion
  • chicken broth
  • fish stock
  • garlic
  • olive oil
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Vegetable Paella

  • artichoke
  • chickpea
  • tomato
  • onion
  • salt
  • pea
  • kalamata olife
  • saffron thread
  • white wine
  • parsley
  • short grain brown rice
  • lemon juice
  • smoked paprika
  • bell pepper
  • vegetable broth
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • black pepper
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Winter Vegetable-Chicken Paella

  • salt
  • butternut squash
  • leek
  • onion
  • chorizo
  • swiss chard
  • chicken thigh
  • olive oil
  • cayenne pepper
  • saffron thread
  • tomato
  • spanish valencia rice
  • hot chicken stock
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Shellfish Paella

  • salt
  • italian broad green bean
  • olive oil
  • navy bean
  • sweet paprika
  • saffron thread
  • shrimp
  • mussel
  • spanish paella rice
  • garlic
  • tomato
  • shrimp
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Paella de Marisco (Shellfish Paella)

  • bell pepper
  • squid
  • mussel
  • clam
  • salt
  • spanish pimentón dulce
  • garlic
  • saffron thread
  • bomba rice
  • red tomato
  • olive oil
  • < href= https www saveur com spanish fish stock >fish stock< >
  • langoustine
  • shrimp
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Grilled Chicken and Pork Paella Recipe

  • Paella
  • salt
  • saffron
  • lemon
  • sofrito
  • sweet smoked spanish paprika
  • olive oil
  • short grain spanish rice
  • chicken leg
  • hot white chicken stock
  • pork tenderloin medallion
  • Sofrito
  • salt
  • bell pepper
  • red pepper
  • leek
  • olive oil
  • onion
  • garlic
  • ñora pepper
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Paella with Spring Vegetables

  • red chili pepper
  • fava bean
  • vialone nano risotto rice
  • borlotti bean
  • cannellini bean
  • chickpea
  • sachets saffron
  • taccole
  • flat green bean
  • pea
  • null red onion
  • null olive oil
  • null paprika
  • null parsley
  • null salt
  • null vegetable broth

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
olive oil
garlic
onion
tomato
bell pepper
saffron thread
parsley
pea
shrimp
lemon
mussel
chicken thigh
chorizo
chicken broth
smoked paprika
saffron
white wine
black pepper
tomato paste
paprika
bay leaf
thyme
celery
green onion
chicken stock
bomba rice
carrot
littleneck clam
clam
grain rice
water
spanish chorizo
squid
fish stock
short grain rice
red pepper
spanish onion
spanish smoked paprika
calamari
seafood stock
arborio rice
artichoke
navy bean
rice
lemon juice
cilantro
cannellini bean
red pepper flake
cipolle
sale fino
scampi
crimini mushroom
short grain spanish rice
black peppercorn
sherry
pancetta
chicken
pork loin
saffron dissolved
ham hock
canola oil
scallop
artichoke heart
turmeric
vegetable broth
red capsicum bell pepper
prawn
broth
rabbit
green bean
vegetable oil
calasparra rice
piquillo pepper
sweet paprika
cumin
spinach
chicken breast
fava bean
pepper
vegetable stock
mushroom
chickpea
leek
langoustine
grain paella rice
cured spanish chorizo sausage
brussels sprout
cauliflower
spanish rice
calamari ring
spanish short grain rice
garlic sausage
merguez
kielbasa
lobster meat
licorice liqueur
white basmati rice
smoked sweet paprika
green chile
halibut
aglio spicchio
cozze
fumetto di crostacei
gamberi
olio extravergine 'oliva
paprika dolce
passata di pomodoro
pepe nero
peperoncino dolce
riso bomba
zafferano
calabrian chile oil
porcini mushroom
kale
poblano pepper
egg
pimentón
shucked
andcups hot shrimp broth
serrano chile
hot smoked spanish paprika
orange zest
haricots vert
spring onion
fish broth
blue cheese stuffed green olife
seafood
basmati rice
lemons juice
white truffle oil
white rice
paella rice
eggplant
sweet bell pepper
chicken drumstick
brodo vegetale
calamari puliti
mazzancolle
olio extravergine di oliva
peperoni rossi
petto di pollo pezzetti
pomodori
riso
zafferano bustina
snail
black mussel
seafood broth
chicken wing
ketchup
black olife
smoked spanish paprika
juniper berry
sweet pea
lower chicken broth
cured spanish chorizo
tin sweet red pepper
herbes de provence
zucchini
red wine
hot vegetable stock
back burner stock
radish sprout
green olife
sugar
rose wine
hot chile
almond
freekeh
hot pickled pepper
castelvetrano olife
dark chili powder
coriander
avocado
marjoram
tomato puree
spanish calasparra rice
brown onion
chicken stock broth
bomba
grain white rice
marinated spanish olife
orange bell pepper
defrosted green pea
chile powder
lemon serve
rosemary
fregola
dill
plum tomato
monkfish
lump crabmeat
arborio
sole
brandy
lobster
maine scallop
maine mussel
valencia rice
hot smoked paprika
clam broth
snow pea
tofu
oil
shellfish stock
fluke
sugar snap pea
ham steak
annatto seed
f asparagus
pimiento
marinated artichoke heart
soy sauce
green
shucked lima bean
threads saffron
live
sticky rice
manila clam
clam juice
coconut milk
jasmine rice
hard-boiled egg
lima bean
thickly bacon
quinoa
morel
chive
pimentón de la vera
kalamata olife
short grain brown rice
butternut squash
swiss chard
cayenne pepper
spanish valencia rice
hot chicken stock
italian broad green bean
spanish paella rice
cuttlefish
spanish pimentón dulche
sweet italian green pepper
spanish pimentón dulce
red tomato
< href= https www saveur com spanish fish stock >fish stock< >
sofrito
sweet smoked spanish paprika
chicken leg
ñora pepper
hot white chicken stock
pork tenderloin medallion
red chili pepper
vialone nano risotto rice
borlotti bean
sachets saffron
taccole
flat green bean
null red onion
null olive oil
null paprika
null parsley
null salt
null vegetable broth

Insights

Correlated with Lower Ratings

  • parsley

Correlated with Higher Ratings

  • celery
  • onion
  • garlic
  • chorizo

Staple Ingredients

  • salt 47%
  • garlic 46%
  • olive oil 46%
  • onion 44%
  • tomato 35%

Common Ingredients

  • bell pepper 29%
  • parsley 25%
  • pea 25%
  • saffron thread 25%
  • shrimp 19%

Usual Ingredients

  • lemon 18%
  • chicken thigh 17%
  • chorizo 15%
  • chicken broth 14%
  • mussel 14%
  • black pepper 13%
  • white wine 13%
  • saffron 11%
  • smoked paprika 11%
  • paprika 10%
  • bay leaf 8%
  • carrot 8%
  • celery 8%
  • grain rice 8%
  • littleneck clam 8% See More
  • thyme 8%
  • tomato paste 8%
  • green onion 7%
  • spanish chorizo 7%