Judith Pena
Student, Designer, and Doctor in USA
What is the Best Paella? A question that I get asked quite often. I always reply by telling them that it's all about what you're eating with it. Yes, I agree that part of the pleasure of paella comes from the delightful ingredients and flavors, but without the right rice or other ingredients, you don't have much to enjoy. I mean, what fun is there in enjoying a meal if you are forced to eat the same thing over again, right?
The best way to avoid this is to keep the variety limited. The more dishes you have on your plate, the more likely one of them is going to go wrong. This will make your meal taste like an impersonal, boring fast food meal. You can avoid this by not serving fish, meat and/or cheese with rice. These are heavy foods and should be avoided with a light dish of rice.
Also, don't serve red beans with rice. Again, these are heavy. They'll make your rice dish taste like cardboard. Instead, have bean salad or some other light vegetable. Don't forget the tomatoes though. A little bit of tomato goes a long way in helping your dish taste light and fresh. Paella Catering Service
Don't forget the potatoes! There is no doubt that potatoes and rice go together as well as any other foods in existence. That being said, don't drown them under the rice. Keep them on top.
As far as the meats themselves go, I'd recommend sticking with a lean cut of meat like skirt steak, flank steak, or even a good piece of ground beef. You can have other types of meat if you want but I find that the taste just isn't there. It's best to stick with the leaner cuts to get the best possible result.
Of course, this whole point of this article is that you shouldn't serve your dish with anything but the best ingredients. If you can't afford French seasoning, that's no problem. Buy some oregano and sprinkle it over your rice. If you can't afford Italian seasoning, order some from your local grocery store and follow the instructions on the container.
The final thing you need to focus on is the presentation of your dish. Think about how you want your meal to look. The best way to do this is to think about what the rest of your meal will be doing for your presentation. If your next meal is going to be with a roasted chicken, for example, you don't want your dish to have too much rice so that it looks messy.
By following these simple tips, you should be able to create the best possible Paella. Just remember to start simple, and make sure you check your progress.