Has anyone ever made Paella?

[GadgetGuy]

Have any of you ever made this dish?

It is a Spanish dish, consisting of rice, seafood (shrimp & mussels), sometimes chicken, water & seasonings.

I just saw it being made on the Food Network's Guy & Hunter's European Vacation.

I've always wanted to make this, but haven't yet. How do you make yours, if you've made it at all? Also, I've always been intrigued by this dish. I've had it once in a restaurant in Washington, DC..

 

[Morning Glory]

Oh Yes! Double yes! And its wonderful. But you must have saffron. Really, you must! I will look up my recipe. There are special types of rice used for paella if you want to be really authentic. The rice needs be round short grain rice but not rice which becomes to 'creamy'. Some common varieties are: Bahia, Balilla, Bomba, Senia, and Calasparra.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I make a vegetarian version of the dish very frequently. But I guess I used to live much closer to Spain and with parents having a home there as well, it is quite a common dish in the UK really.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Oh Yes! Double yes! And its wonderful. But you must have saffron. Really, you must! I will look up my recipe. There are special types of rice used for paella if you want to be really authentic. The rice needs be round short grain rice but not rice which becomes to 'creamy'. Some common varieties are: Bahia, Balilla, Bomba, Senia, and Calasparra.

Saffron is a very expensive spice Too much of it will make the dish taste like medicine!!

 

[Morning Glory]

Yes, if you use too much it can taste medicinal. But you don't need too much. I buy it from Amazon and it lasts a long time. Its not really authentic without saffron...

 

[GadgetGuy]

How must does it cost there? Isn't it used to just color the dish?

 

[Morning Glory]

How must does it cost there? Isn't it used to just color the dish?

Not just to colour. The taste is key! The amount I use in the dish (for 4 people) costs about £1.50 = approx. $1.80

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018MZUSI8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[GadgetGuy]

Not just to colour. The taste is key! The amount I use in the dish (for 4 people) costs about £1.50 = approx. $1.80

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018MZUSI8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Those prices though, are probably in your country. I'll have to look & see what the price is in American currency.

 

[Cinisajoy]

Not just to colour. The taste is key! The amount I use in the dish (for 4 people) costs about £1.50 = approx. $1.80

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018MZUSI8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We can't get that one here. All here are more expensive on Amazon.

 

[Cinisajoy]

Could he use Mexican saffron?
If yes, I could send him some.

 

[Yorky]

A friend brought me some saffron from Turkey once. Very cheap but total rubbish.

 

[Yorky]

Even on my few visits to Spain, I've only sampled Paella once. Unfortunately I appear to be allergic to certain types of mussels - bring on an asthma attack - so I steer clear of it. Sad really.

 

[Yorky]

Not just to colour. The taste is key! The amount I use in the dish (for 4 people) costs about £1.50 = approx. $1.80

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018MZUSI8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That link doesn't work for me but it does if I copy and paste.

5,200 quid/kg is a bit pricey (albeit it doesn't weigh much per stigma).

 

[Morning Glory]

Could he use Mexican saffron?
If yes, I could send him some.

I don't know what Mexican saffron is. Is it actually saffron?

 

[Morning Glory]

Even on my few visits to Spain, I've only sampled Paella once. Unfortunately I appear to be allergic to certain types of mussels - bring on an asthma attack - so I steer clear of it. Sad really.

It can be made with prawns and other seafood. There isn't a set recipe which says mussels.