Paella is a famous and loved dish all over the world – but how do you get a really perfect paella? Which rice should you use? What to drink? Read on to learn how to make perfect paella outdoors and what it takes to succeed every time!
1) Rice – This is something to keep in mind
The rice should be full of flavor and spices, especially saffron and paprika. Seafood or whatever you choose to put on is more of an accessory as it's the rice that takes center stage. It is best to use real paella rice that is especially intended for the dish. To ensure that the rice does not become too soft or too burnt, it is important not to touch the rice too much during cooking. Don't stress yourself and don't move too much but trust the recipe you follow! However, you can be careful if the water disappears too quickly - add stock so it doesn't become completely dry. When the rice is cooked, it should not be bubbling hard, but it should simmer a bit.
2) Which stock should I use?
You can of course make your own vegetable stock. But if you (like most of us) don't have the time, we recommend vegetable stock instead of stock cubes. There is more flavor in the vegetable stock, which makes for a richer paella.
3) What is a suitable dessert?
Since paella is a spicy and filling dish with a lot of starch, a light dessert is recommended. A good sour lemon sorbet or fruit salad is perfect as an aftertaste and will be appreciated by the whole company.
4) Best drink for paella
Because the paella is already so juicy and delicious, a cold beer is perfect as a drink. The paella is hot and the cooling beer complements this perfectly, with a seafood paella it also goes well with a white wine or a very light beer.
5) That's why you should cook paella outside
Paella is a dish that cooks for a long time! It is intended to be served to several people, so you need a lot of space. The advantage of a large, good paella pan with a gas hob is that you can cook the food outside with an extra large frying pan that fits the food. The smells can take place outside and you don't have to think about food left inside after cooking.
6) Vary yourself – try something different on the paella pan!
A paella pan gives you a unique opportunity to make more delicious “all-in-one” meals, such as stews, pizza or pancakes. A wonderfully large pan with rims is perfect for cooking several things at once and letting the food take care of itself, fry sausages, potatoes, vegetables – all in one place!
Grilling paella together in the open air is an underrated activity and the perfect option if you want to take a break from the usual grilling. To prepare the food together and gather around the large round paella pan with each delicious glass of Spanish wine in hand – it couldn't be more fun! With these tips you can call yourself a paella professional.
