Authentic Paella Valenciana

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A traditional paella Valenciana. I lived in Spain for two years where I was taught the art of making paella which originated in Valencia. I haven't found anything on here which is even close to authentic, so I thought I would add this recipe for those who would like to try a taste of Spain. First and foremost you will need a special paella pan called a paellera or just a paella. Trust me after you taste this you'll be glad you bought the special pan.

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs
Servings:
8
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • ½ (4 pound) whole chicken, cut into 6 pieces

  • ½ (2 pound) rabbit, cleaned and cut into pieces

  • 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled

  • 1 medium tomato, finely chopped

  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can butter beans

  • ½ (10 ounce) package frozen green peas

  • ½ (10 ounce) package frozen green beans

  • 1 teaspoon mild paprika, or to taste

  • 6 cups water, or as needed

  • salt to taste

  • 1 pinch saffron threads, or to taste

  • 1 pinch dried thyme, or to taste

  • 1 pinch dried rosemary, or to taste

  • 3 cups short-grain white rice, or as needed

Directions

  1. Heat a paella pan over medium-high heat, and coat with olive oil. Add chicken, rabbit, and garlic; cook and stir until nicely browned. Move the browned meat to the sides of the pan, and add tomato, butter beans, peas, and green beans. Season with paprika, and mix well.

  2. Fill the paella pan almost to the top with water, measuring the water as you add it so you can determine the amount of rice to add later. Bring to a boil. Simmer for about 1 hour to make a nice broth.

  3. Season with a generous amount of salt, just enough saffron for a yellow color, thyme, and rosemary. Stir in half as much rice as the amount of water added to the pan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes.

Cook’s Note

Rabbit can be very hard to find, so you can use a whole chicken instead. It also may be easier to use boneless chicken, but then you don't get any fun extras like hearts and livers. If you do use the hearts and livers, don't put them in until later, as they cook very fast. They will, however, add a nice flavor to the rest of the dish.

The seasonings are intended to be added to taste to account for personal preferences. Add just enough saffron to make a nice yellow color. Season with thyme and rosemary if desired. The goal is to make a rich-tasting broth that will soak into the rice to make it delicious.

Since paella pans come in different sizes, water and rice measurements are also left open for modifications.

I like to use bomba, Valencia, or arborio rice.

65 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

783 Calories
31g Fat
87g Carbs
34g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 783
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 31g 40%
Saturated Fat 9g 43%
Cholesterol 82mg 27%
Sodium 328mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 87g 32%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 34g 68%
Vitamin C 8mg 8%
Calcium 85mg 7%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 401mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.