HERBS AND SPICES: 6 - B SPANISH: SAFFRON AND PAELLA

LINK TO HERBS AND SPICES:  6 - B Saffron and Paella

First post on Saffron link - SAFFRON 6 - A  Saffron 

WIKI 

Paella (Valencian: [paˈeʎa] or [pəˈeʎə], Spanish: [paˈeʎa], English ) is a Valencian rice dish with ancient roots that originated in its modern form in the mid-19th century near the Albufera lagoon, a coastal lagoon in Valencia, on the east coast of Spain. The dish is widely regarded as Spain's national dish, as well as a regional Valencian dish; Valencians regard paella as one of their identifying symbols.

Types of paella include Valencian paella (Spanish: paella valenciana), seafood paella (Spanish: paella de marisco), and mixed paella (Spanish: paella mixta), but there are many others as well. Valencian paella is believed to be the original recipe  and consists of white rice, green beans (bajoqueta and tavella), meat (chicken and rabbit), white beans (garrofón), snails, and seasoning such as saffron and rosemary. Another very common but seasonal ingredient is artichoke. Seafood paella replaces meat with seafood and omits beans and green vegetables. Mixed paella is a free-style combination of land animals, seafood, vegetables, and sometimes beans. Most paella chefs use calasparra  or bomba rices. All types of paellas use olive oil.

There are some cooks and/or chefs that recommend using paprika or turmeric if you don't have saffron.  That is good for the color but not for the taste.  If you have ever tasted a piece of saffron you know that it has a distinct taste as I mentioned in 
6 A Link above. 


LINKS FOR Recipes below used saffron. 

FLORENCE TYLER

His Recipe

GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN

His Recipe

RACHEL RAY

Her Recipe

OTHER LINKS BELOW:

ALTON BROWN

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/paella-recipe.html

EMERIL LAGASSE

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/paella-recipe2.html

ROBERT IRVINE

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robert-irvine/paella-recipe.html

BOBBY FLAY

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/paella-on-the-grill-recipe.html

FOOD NETWORK 2
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/seafood-paella-recipe.html

GUY FIERI

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/chicken-and-seafood-paella-recipe.html  

NOTE:  GUY FIERI IS THE ONLY ONE WHO SOAKED THE SAFFRON IN WATER AND HAD IT IN THE LIST OF INGREDIENTS LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WRITE IN A RECIPE