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The Method to the Madness

Complete paella cooking method with step-by-step instructions

What You'll Learn:

  • Perfect ingredient proportions for 4-20 people
  • Traditional sofrito preparation technique
  • Proper saffron toasting and usage
  • Step-by-step cooking process
Completed paella dish with colorful peppers and seafood

Choose Your Serving Size

Select the number of people you're cooking for to see the exact measurements

Ingredients for 4 People (12 inch Pan)

1 tsp Salt
Used to create initial seasoning ring
4 tbsp Olive Oil
High-quality olive oil for authentic flavor
4 cloves Garlic
Fresh garlic, chopped or crushed
1 medium Onion
Yellow or white onion, diced
2 medium or 1 cup paste Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes or prepared tomato paste
2 cups short grain Rice
Bomba rice or Arborio rice
4 cups specially made Broth
Homemade seafood, chicken, or vegetable broth
1 pinch Saffron
High-quality saffron threads, toasted
1 lb mixed (chicken, seafood, sausage) Meats
Combination of seafood, chicken, pork, sausage, or beef
2 bell peppers Peppers
Bell peppers, roasted and sliced
1 cup Peas
Fresh or frozen green peas
2 lemons Lemons
Fresh lemons for serving

Ingredients for 8-10 People (18 inch Pan)

2 tsp Salt
Used to create initial seasoning ring
8 tbsp Olive Oil
High-quality olive oil for authentic flavor
8 cloves Garlic
Fresh garlic, chopped or crushed
2 medium Onion
Yellow or white onion, diced
4 medium or 2 cups paste Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes or prepared tomato paste
4 cups short grain Rice
Bomba rice or Arborio rice
8 cups specially made Broth
Homemade seafood, chicken, or vegetable broth
2 pinches Saffron
High-quality saffron threads, toasted
2 lbs mixed Meats
Combination of seafood, chicken, pork, sausage, or beef
4 bell peppers Peppers
Bell peppers, roasted and sliced
2 cups Peas
Fresh or frozen green peas
4 lemons Lemons
Fresh lemons for serving

Ingredients for 12-14 People (22 inch Pan)

3 tsp Salt
Used to create initial seasoning ring
12 tbsp Olive Oil
High-quality olive oil for authentic flavor
12 cloves Garlic
Fresh garlic, chopped or crushed
3 medium Onion
Yellow or white onion, diced
6 medium or 3 cups paste Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes or prepared tomato paste
6 cups short grain Rice
Bomba rice or Arborio rice
12 cups specially made Broth
Homemade seafood, chicken, or vegetable broth
3 pinches Saffron
High-quality saffron threads, toasted
3 lbs mixed Meats
Combination of seafood, chicken, pork, sausage, or beef
6 bell peppers Peppers
Bell peppers, roasted and sliced
3 cups Peas
Fresh or frozen green peas
6 lemons Lemons
Fresh lemons for serving

Ingredients for 18-20 People (26 inch Pan)

4 tsp Salt
Used to create initial seasoning ring
16 tbsp Olive Oil
High-quality olive oil for authentic flavor
16 cloves Garlic
Fresh garlic, chopped or crushed
4 medium Onion
Yellow or white onion, diced
8 medium or 4 cups paste Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes or prepared tomato paste
8 cups short grain Rice
Bomba rice or Arborio rice
16 cups specially made Broth
Homemade seafood, chicken, or vegetable broth
4 pinches Saffron
High-quality saffron threads, toasted
4 lbs mixed Meats
Combination of seafood, chicken, pork, sausage, or beef
8 bell peppers Peppers
Bell peppers, roasted and sliced
4 cups Peas
Fresh or frozen green peas
8 lemons Lemons
Fresh lemons for serving

Cooking Process

Follow these steps for perfect paella every time

1

Setup and Preparation

  1. 1

    Take the Saffron and put it on top of some tinfoil and toast it till the Saffron turns into a dark burgundy. (This takes 1-2 minutes or less, keep an eye on it you can burn it!)

  2. 2

    Heat the pan to a good temperature and pre-cook your meats including the seafood. This step helps prevent undercooked meat, specifically any pork or chicken items that might not be able to be cooked thoroughly in the paella pan.

  3. 3

    Pre-Cook the meat and slightly fry the seafood. Finally, cook the peppers till they are soft and easily editable.

  4. 4

    Cook everything separate so that all the food can be removed and staged for the final steps of the Paella making.

2
  1. 1

    Now turn the heat to medium-high, something that will fry garlic easily.

  2. 2

    Make a small bead of salt around the outer edge of the Paella, this should be the only salt you add to the paella, you can over salt a Paella easily and ruin the taste.

  3. 3

    Pour the Olive Oil into the pan and heat to medium-high temperature.

  4. 4

    Add the garlic either chopped or crushed and fry till it starts to brown.

  5. 5

    Then quickly add the Onion and Stir until the Onion is translucent.

  6. 6

    Add in the tomatoes and then cook until they are well mixed.

  7. 7

    If you have made some secret tomato sauce, then add it at this time.

  8. 8

    Cook for about 5 min for a thick burgundy consistency.

  9. 9

    Congratulations! You just made a great Sofrito.

Pro Tips

  • Toast saffron carefully - it burns quickly!
  • Pre-cook meats separately for even cooking
  • Only add salt once - around the edge of the pan
  • Use high-quality olive oil for authentic flavor

Learn More

Paella
Wikipedia information on Paella
Sofrito
Wikipedia information on Sofrito

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