Paella!

[Xabia Jim]

This was the first Paella on my new hearth.....and the first time I have cooked a Paella in Spain!

There were also a number of other notable firsts....
....first time with a single meat, just chicken
....first time using brown (integral) rice
....first Paella just cooked for the two of us, no company but a bottle of red!

Jim

Here's the process:

Light fire
Heat pan, add oil, garlic, onion, rosemary ....sautee a bit and add chicken.
Brown chicken well....

[Xabia Jim]

Push browned chicken out to the outside. add some olive oil...

Add tomatoes and sautee, add some garlic, onions and rosemary.

Add some olive oil and put in the rice.

Stir rice and mixture to coat rice with oil and flavor....


....then add your hot caldo (soup stock) and let it simmer....

[Xabia Jim]

Now, after it's simmered a while we add the vegetables...chives, green beans, squash and red peppers....a little parsley. Any leftover garlic or onions too!

Let cook until the liquid is almost gone, cover and let rest 10 minutes and


time to eat...squeeze some lemon over the top.

And hope you have some burnt crust on the bottom...that's the best part!

It's easier than you think! (See more detailed recipe under rice and vegetable postings)

Jim

[Richard]

Looks great - thanks for the step by step pictures.

That is an auful lot of food for only one bottle of wine!!

[james]

Jim,
Great photos. How did it taste?

I am happy to say that we found a Spanish Paella pan on our trip, and have already put it to work. It's a 9 place/person pan, and it is 40cm/15.7" round. It easily was big enough for a family of four, and you could make it go for 8 people by using more stuff.

We baked ours on a wood charcoal grill, so we got a smokey flavor. It brings back a lot of memories. Thinking about this, a 15.7" Paella pan will fit into most pizza ovens (not the Casa80 or Artigiano80), and we've made some pretty good Paella in our brick ovens.

This is something everyone should give a try. Here a photo of our new pan.
James

[Xabia Jim]

James, the paella was great. Next time I do it with brown rice I will go to a 3.5:1 caldo/rice ratio to let it boil a little longer for cooking the brown rice. Reheated it was better than the first time!

I usually try and use the largest pan I can find since it's a lot of prep/work time. Leftovers are great.

I'm not sure how the thin paella pan will work in a WF oven. It's designed of thin steel for over a wood or gas fire. I've used the terracotta with good success. Now puting it over the coals in the oven and maybe that will work.

BTW, we bought some smoky paprika which is also good for adding the smoky flavor!

XJ

[james]

Hey Jim,

Brown rice sounds too healthy for me. I'm using Arborio, or Carnaroli -- it's very creamy. We had Risotto tonight, after Saturday's Paella; using the same rice.

Where are you? Are you back in MI?
James

[Xabia Jim]

Healty?, hail yes!

We've done the brown rice now a couple of times and it's worked out fine.

I like the brown rice and whole grain breads, .... but still having issues finding the perfect wheat crust for pizza....anyone done that?

[gjbingham]

Jim,
No answer for the wheat crust. All my attempts at wheat breads have been weird. It hydrates differently.

Where exactly in Spain are you, (when you're there)? I'm curious about your dual locations. I'm sure I missed a story somewhere. Vacation, work, or just living life to its fullest? Cool, regardless. Costa Brava, Costa Del Oro, Andalucia, Canary Islands, Mallorca, on and on, I loved them all! Indcredibly friendly people. Great food, great wine, everyone's happy. Always a party, although you have to go out at midnight and stay out till dawn to even get a glimpse of understanding. I'm envious in a (or many) way(s). I'd love to hear the story. Send me a link if you've posted it before. Otherwise, I'll just sit here and dream of flamico dancers working thier magic on wooden crates in small bars , out in the middle of nowhere, and the crowd clapping along in unison, urging them on. Almost a dream now....

[Xabia Jim]

George....Vacation, work, or just living life to its fullest?

No, Vacation, Work and living life to the Fullest! Add the WFO, internet, Skype and twin grandchildren...it could always be worse!

I'm on the Costa Blanca midway between Valencia and Alicante where some World Health Official once remarked...."Environmentally Near Perfect".....Well the Mountains, weather and culture does not change much but there's sure been a lot of building in the nearly 40 years I've come here.

And the rest of the story is that James spent time here as well right next door in Denia! He and I are going to cook and drink wine some day.....

Xabia