Authentic Paella Valenciana Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• (4-pound) whole chicken, cut into 6 pieces
• (2-pound) rabbit, cleaned and cut into pieces
• 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled
• 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can butter beans
• (10 ounce) package frozen green peas
• (10 ounce) package frozen green beans
• 1 teaspoon mild paprika, or to taste
• 6 cups water, or as needed
• Salt to taste
• 1 pinch saffron threads, or to taste
• 1 pinch dried thyme, or to taste
• 1 pinch dried rosemary, or to taste
• 3 cups short-grain white rice, or as needed

Directions

1. Heat a paella pan over medium-high heat and coat with olive oil.
2. Add chicken, rabbit, and garlic to the pan, cooking and stirring until the meat is nicely browned.
3. Once browned, move the meat to the sides of the pan and add the tomato, butter beans, peas, and green beans. Season with paprika and mix well.
4. Fill the pan almost to the top with water, measuring the amount as you add it to determine how much rice to add later.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour to create a rich broth.
6. Season the broth with salt, saffron, thyme, and rosemary to taste.
7. Stir in half as much rice as the amount of water added to the pan. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low.
8. Simmer the dish for about 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked through.

Cooks Note

If rabbit is unavailable, you can use a whole chicken instead. Boneless chicken can also be used for convenience, though you will miss out on extra flavorful parts like hearts and livers. If you do include the hearts and livers, add them later in the cooking process, as they cook quickly but impart a rich flavor to the dish.

Adjust the seasoning according to your taste, adding just enough saffron for a yellow color and seasoning with thyme and rosemary if desired. The goal is to create a flavorful broth that will soak into the rice.

Since paella pans come in different sizes, feel free to adjust the water and rice measurements accordingly. Rice types like bomba, Valencia, or arborio work well for this dish.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrition	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	783	-
Total Fat	31g	40%
Saturated Fat	9g	43%
Cholesterol	82mg	27%
Sodium	328mg	14%
Total Carbohydrate	87g	32%
Dietary Fiber	5g	16%
Total Sugars	2g	-
Protein	34g	68%
Vitamin C	8mg	8%
Calcium	85mg	7%
Iron	7mg	40%
Potassium	401mg	9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.