Paella is a dish originally from Valencia ( Spain ). Its main ingredient is rice , usually accompanied by seafood , chicken , legumes and other foods.
The container used to make paella is known as a paella pan or even a paella pan. It is a kind of frying pan with handles.
Valencian paella would have emerged in the 18th century in the area of La Albufera . It is believed that in that rice-growing region, a combination of rice with green beans (also known as green beans), snails and eel began to be prepared in a saucepan that, over the years, led to the now traditional paella of Valencia .
To prepare a paella, bomb rice is usually used, which is medium grain. The classic version usually includes green beans, tomato, olive oil, saffron and chicken , although some of these ingredients may be missing and others may be included (rabbit, garlic, etc.).
Over the years, paella reached other parts of Spain and even many other countries . Thus, various varieties emerged, one of the most popular currently being the so-called paella marinera , which has rice, fish, mollusks and/or shellfish. In this case, the rice is cooked in fish broth.
Likewise, we have to establish that there are other variants of paella, such as the following:
-The so-called sea and mountain paella. If it has this name it is precisely because it is prepared with foods from the sea, such as shellfish , and with other foods that set foot on dry land. With the latter we are referring to the fact that meat from different animals is used, such as chicken meat or rabbit meat.
-Mountain paella, which is cooked with foods such as pork ribs, rabbit meat or the aforementioned chicken or turkey meat.
-The Alicante paella, for its part, is different from the others because its base ingredient is what is known as salmorreta. This must be established that it is a typical sauce from the Alicante area that is prepared with ingredients such as tomato, ñora, garlic and olive oil.
In addition to having an exquisite flavor, we cannot ignore that eating paella brings with it a series of advantages for the body. Yes, because it provides not only carbohydrates but also vitamins and proteins.
Today paella is an emblem of Spanish gastronomy in general. So much so that we have to state that tourists who visit the country and want to get to know its cuisine in depth do not hesitate to eat the aforementioned paella during their stay. That is why it is served in the main restaurants in Spain that work with tourists and in Spanish-style gastronomic establishments found in other nations, along with tapas , Iberian ham and other dishes and ingredients.
Paella is so important in the Valencian Community and throughout Spain that the Sueca International Valencian Paella Competition is held annually.