Paella

Paella is a famous dish from Spain. It is made with rice cooked in a wide, shallow pan. The rice turns yellow from a spice called saffron. Cooks add meats, seafood, and vegetables to make it colorful and yummy.

Where Paella Started

Paella comes from Valencia, a city on the east coast of Spain. Farmers and workers first made it outdoors over a fire. They used rice from nearby fields and whatever food they had around. The word paella actually means 'pan' in an old Spanish language. Now, people all over Spain and the world enjoy it.

What Goes in Paella

There are many kinds of paella. The original one from Valencia has chicken, rabbit, beans, and tomatoes. Seafood paella has shrimp, mussels, and squid. Mixed paella has both meat and seafood. Every paella has rice, saffron, and olive oil. The best part is the crispy layer of rice that forms at the bottom of the pan, called socarrat.

Fun Facts

• The biggest paella ever made fed over 100,000 people.
• Saffron, used in paella, is one of the most expensive spices in the world.
• Paella is usually eaten at lunchtime in Spain.

Did You Know?

In Spain, people often eat paella right out of the pan with everyone sharing the same dish.