Spotlight Spice: Paella Seasoning
Paella is one of Spain’s most widely recognized dishes. It showed up in Spanish cuisine in the mid-19th century in the Valencia region on the eastern coast. Field workers often made the rice dish at lunch time, including ingredients like tomato, onion, snail, and rabbit. Today the dish is made all over Spain and beyond, and as a result, its ingredients vary widely – everyone has their own favorite things to include. It’s kind of the tater tot casserole of the Mediterranean.
At AllSpice, our Paella Seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices traditionally used in paella, including saffron, garlic, paprika, and chiles for subtle heat. Our blend brings together the flavors of paella in a single jar. While it’s perfect for creating a delicious paella with your favorite ingredients, you can also use it to add a touch of authentic Spanish flavor to just about any dish.
We like using it to add flavor to soups and stews, as a basic rub/seasoning for chicken and fish, and in combination with mayonnaise and sour cream to create a Mediterranean dip. Try creating a Spanish-style rice pilaf by sweating onion in olive oil, then stirring in rice. Next add our Paella Seasoning and give it a stir to coat the rice. Let the rice lightly toast, then add stock or water and allow to cook until done.
If you’ve never made paella, give it a try. No need to invest in a fancy-schmancy pan either – any wide, shallow skillet is up to the task. Our favorite ingredients to include are chicken thighs, tomato, peas, green beans, onion, red bell pepper, chorizo, and shimp. We recommend 2 teaspoons of Paella Seasoning for each cup of rice in your dish.