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Ole! Get your Spain On!
Meal of the Month
Paella
Have you ever watched your favorite cooking show and an exotic dish called paella (pah-eh-yah) appeared? If you didn’t know what it was, you probably thought it was just rice and shrimp. However, there is more to this dish than what meets the eye… or the mouth!
What is Paella?
Paella is a traditional Spanish dish. Its main ingredient is arroz, the Spanish word for rice. Along with rice, there are many different ingredients in it. Basically, it is a mixture of rice, meat, vegetables and spices. It was mainly fed to the laborers of the field and for meat they would throw in some rabbit chunks, chicken or duck. Most versions today include seafood, but the original 

 

version does not have any seafood except snails which were cheap back then (Corrigan).
Where did Paella come from?
This dish originated on the coast of Valencia, Spain. Valencia is located on the eastern edge of Spain, right on the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the fact that paella started out in a port city, many different cultures on the Mediterranean influenced the foods that go into it (Paella Company). It has a lot of variations because the different cultures used their own traditional foods while making it. It really all depends on the location of where the dish is made. For example, paella in the middle of Spain might have more vegetables or snails. Whereas on the coast, it could have more shellfish. There are also versions that have more of an Indian flavor. No matter where you live, it is a dish that is loved around the world and can be made unique to your taste.
More About Paella
One more history tidbit about paella is that it is named after the pan that it is traditionally prepared in. This pan is usually silver with small little indents in it, but don’t worry, Paella can be prepared in a home skillet or pan. Many Spanish families will make paella for special occasions and have a big bowl of it as the centerpiece for their fiesta. Sometimes families have competitions to see whose paella is the best (Corrigan). Other families eat it as a normal weekday meal.
How to Make Paella
Making paella is actually pretty simple. Back in the day, farmers would take their rice and mix whatever they had laying around the house with it (Paella Company). Even today you can do the same thing! First, you cook your rice. There are many different types of rice that you can choose. Then, you add whatever ingredients you wish to include. You can even use some of your leftovers from previous meals.
Once, you have all of your ingredients together, season it to your taste. Since there isn’t one specific recipe for paella, there really isn’t a way to mess it up if all of your ingredients are properly cooked.
We at Tasty Bytes found a recipe for paella that is easy and has minimal ingredients from Martha Stewart. Located in Appendix A, this recipe is perfect for beginners. However, even top chefs could use this recipe and add their own flair to it. There is not a “wrong way” to make paella.




 
  In this recipe, the chicken sausage could be replaced with chorizo sausage if you really want your dish to have an authentic Spanish taste! Don’t like shrimp? Try something else instead like clams or even chicken. Just because today’s chefs are using seafood in paella, it does not mean you that have to. In fact, the paella you like the best may not contain any seafood at all! It can be whatever you want it to be. Just remember, you might need to make paella a couple different times until you find the recipe that you and your family like the best. Luckily, paella is a flexible dish where anything can be added or taken out if there is a picky eater around. However, one of our mottos at Tasty Bytes is that “you will never know if you like it until you try it.” Don’t let anything hold you back. There’s no time to waste, go turn on some Spanish music, get your Spain on and make some paella!
                                                     Works Cited
Corrigan, D. (n.d.). Introduction to Paella: The History of Paella & Paella Today. Retrieved            October 15, 2014, from About Travel.
Everyday Food. (2003, December). Easy Paella Recipe. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from    
       Martha Stewart.
History and Orgins of Paella. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2014, from The Paella Company.



 “You don't need a paella pan to make this meal. Use a wide, shallow sauté pan with a lid. If you are taking this dish to a party, reheat it covered; add water as needed.”
–Martha Stewart