Paella (IPA: [pa'eʎa]) is a typical Valencian rice dish from Spain. The Valencian Community ( Valencian and official Comunitat Valenciana; Comunidad Valenciana is an Autonomous community located in central to Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography culture and climate The origin of the name paella is in the Valencian for frying pan. This word in turn derives from Latin patella and is akin to French poêle, Italian padella, Old Spanish padilla and New Mexican Spanish puela. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. The Spanish language developed from Vulgar Latin, with loan-words from Basque in the north and Arabic in the southern part of the Iberian New Mexican Spanish is a variant or dialect of Spanish spoken in the United States, primarily in the northern part of the state of New Mexico and the southern part
Paella is usually garnished with vegetables and meat or seafood. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however The three key ingredients are rice (usually Calasparra[1][2] or Bomba[2] varieties. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many ), saffron, and olive oil. Saffron ( Kurdish/Persian زَعْفَرَان is a Spice derived from the dried Stigma of the Flower of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus Olive oil is a fruit oil obtained from the olive ( Olea europaea; family Oleaceae along with Lilacs Jasmine and ash trees
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Basic cooking method
For recipes, see Wikibooks:Cookbook:Paella.
Paella is cooked in a paella pan, which is a large, shallow, flat pan. An important part of the flavor comes from the addition of saffron and the sofrito, or the combination of tomatoes, and garlic (and sometimes peppers). Saffron ( Kurdish/Persian زَعْفَرَان is a Spice derived from the dried Stigma of the Flower of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus Sofrito is a Spanish word for a well cooked and fragrant sauce First the meat, and then the vegetables are stir fried in olive oil; subsequently water is added and brought to a boil, and left boiling for half an hour or so. Stir frying is an Umbrella term used to describe two fast Chinese cooking techniques chǎo ( 炒) and bào ( 爆) (This, however, is not the sole method utilized in the preparation. Many chefs add the water, allow it to come to the boil and at that moment add the rice. ) Later, after checking the obtained broth flavour and adding salt if required, the rice is added. Broth is a Liquid in which Bones Meat, Fish, Cereal grains or Vegetables have been simmered and strained out Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants The rice in Valencian paella is never stir-fried in oil, as pilau, though the paella made further southwest of Valencia often is. Once the rice is nearly done, the paella is removed from the heat and left to absorb the remaining water. Traditional paella has a crispy, caramelized, toasted bottom (called socarrat in Valencian) that is considered a delicacy. Caramelization or caramelisation is the Oxidation of Sugar, a process used extensively in cooking for the resulting nutty flavor and brown color To achieve a socarrat, one either needs to time the evaporation of the water properly with the completion of the rice being cooked or turn up the heat to high and listen to the bottom of the rice toast. Once the aroma of toasted rice comes from the pan, but before the rice burns, the heat is removed once again. The paella is ready to be served after having cooled for several minutes.
Related paella traditions
It has become a custom for mass gatherings in the Valencian Community (festivals, political campaigns, protests, etc. The Valencian Community ( Valencian and official Comunitat Valenciana; Comunidad Valenciana is an Autonomous community located in central to ) to prepare an enormous paella, sometimes to win a mention in the Guinness Book of Records. Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U Ad hoc wide-diameter pans are commissioned for these cases. Ad hoc is a Latin phrase which means "for this [ Purpose ]"
Largest paella
The largest paella measured 20m (65ft 7in) in diameter and was made by Juan Carlos Galbis and a team of helpers in Valencia, Spain on 8 March 1992. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) It was eaten by 100,000 people.
Paella and its variations are typical picnic dishes for the Spanish spring and summer. In contemporary usage picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a Meal is eaten outdoors ( Al fresco or En plein air The dish is also typically consumed during the Falles in Valencia. The Falles (in Valencian) are a Valencian traditional celebration in praise of Saint Joseph in Valencia Spain.
Paella contests
In the world of competitive cooking, Paellas are seldom used, save in Spain in the giant Paella King contest. This is an annual competition held in a different town in Galicia, Spain every year. Whoever makes the best Paella is the "Paella King" for the year until the next competition.
In Villamañán during the festival Fiestas de la Zarza, Concurso de Paellas or the Paella Contest, in which all peñas cook paellas and compete for the prize of the best paella of them all.
Related dishes
See also
References
- ^ Delia Online - Rice(accessed 12/04/2008)
- ^ a b Tienda.com - Paella Rice(accessed 12/04/2008)
External links
Arroz a la valenciana (Spanish or Arroz à valenciana ( Portuguese) is a typical Nicaraguan, Portuguese, and Spanish Arròs negre ( Black rice in Valencian) is a dry Rice dish similar to Paella. Fideuà (fiðeˈwa or Fideuada ( from fideu, Catalan for "noodle" is a typical dish of Valencia Valencian Country. Fried rice is a popular component of Chinese cuisine and other forms of Asian cuisine. Jambalaya (ˌdʒʌmbəˈlaɪə or) or is a Louisiana Creole dish of Spanish and French creation Pilaf, also called polao, pilau or pulao, is a dish in which a grain such as Rice or cracked wheat is browned in oil and then cooked in a Risotto is a rich and creamy traditional Italian rice dish It is one of the most common ways of Cooking rice in Italy. Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography culture and climate Mediterranean cuisine is the food of the areas around the Mediterranean Sea. Demographics Villamañán has a population of 1287 as of the INE s (Spanish Census Bureau 2005 estimateDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic