Spanish Rice Dishes
Possibly, paella is the most well-known Spanish dish in Valencia and in the whole world. But, just as it is not the only Spanish dish that has become internationally renowned, it is not the only flavorful recipe made with rice.
There are many types of paella, such as seafood, vegetable, lobster… But other rice dishes have nothing to be jealous of when it comes to the number of recipes there are out there or how tasty they are. Here are some of the most well-known rice dishes that are not paella:
Arroz al horno (Baked rice)
This is paella’s rival dish. It is made with a mix of rice, chickpeas, potatoes, tomatoes and sausage. The mix is baked in the oven with water until it is flavorful and compact. The best part of this dish is that it is easy to make and it can be made according to taste. Almost any ingredient can be added in, without forgetting the rice.
Arroz a banda
Considered by many to be the ideal rice dish, arroz a banda is known for its use of seafood, such as calamari, sepia and shrimp. Fish broth, the flavor that the dish is most identified with, is recommended for its preparation. Not surprisingly, this dish was originally made by fishermen, who knew how to give rice its sweet taste, worthy of the best recipes. The combination of rice and seafood in this dish is one of the tastiest in the world.
Pimientos rojos rellenos de arroz(Stuffed red peppers)
Pimientos rojos rellenos de arroz is a combination that few people would have dreamed up. It is a recipe that includes a perfect balance of peppers, rice, chopped meat and onion that makes for an exquisite taste. Just as with arroz al horno, the ingredients are first prepared in a frying pan, they are then stuffed into the pepper and when the pepper is full, it’s baked until it’s ready. But be careful with this dish, looks can be deceiving; just one pepper can be enough to satisfy each dinner’s appetite.
Arroz con acelgas (Rice with swiss chard)
Another Spanish rice dish variation is rice with broth. Different from the rest of the dishes, this rice doesn’t absorb all of the broth or water it is made with, and is served in the resulting mix, in many cases with a unique and special flavor that makes it a favorite to many.
One of the most well-known rice dishes in this style is rice with swiss chard, rice with broth made with swiss chard, snails, potatoes and pork fat made to each cook’s taste, and which is absolutely delicious.