Paella Marinera Recipe (2024)

Paella is a popular rice dish that originated from the Valencia region of Spain. This is usually made of short grain yellow rice and cooked in a special wide-flat pan called “Paellera”.

Paella Marinera is a type of seafood paella that showcases the richness of the ocean. This particular recipe involves different seafood, which I think is a very lovely combination.

Aside from the different seafood, this dish tasted perfect because of the type of rice and saffron used. Using seasoned yellow rice brings in a lot of good flavor, while the Spanish saffron (which is considered as one of the most expensive spices) improves the taste and aroma of the dish.

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Something undoubtedly Filipino is our never-ending and universal love for rice. Morning, noon, or night, rice is a staple on any Filipino plate. Whether it’s at big parties, small get-togethers, or even just a regular meal at home, it’s not an exaggeration when we say Filipinos can’t live without it! But even we look for twists on the ever reliable white rice sometimes ––hence our love for fried rice, or even pancit. Something new and exciting and fresh to the palate, without having to sacrifice something we love ––the offer sounds all too enticing. Luckily, this isn’t just an idea too good to be true; ust have a bite of this beautiful paella marinera!

A beautiful dish with Spanish origins, paella is often touted around as the “national dish” of Spain. While actual Spanish natives regard this dish as a Valencian treasure, we around the world claim it as one of the cuisine’s most famous dishes. The word paella, in English, literally translates to frying pan. It refers to the wide, shallow pan they cook the dish in ––and back then, farmers and those working away in the fields would eat from the pan as well!

What is Paella?

Paella is a whole meal on its own. Here, a flavorful rice is surrounded by an assortment of ingredients that make for a dish both colorful and delicious. This Paella Marinera is fairly close to the original counterpart, coming from the region where it gets its name. There are a number of renditions of this dish that have sprouted here, there, and everywhere. The ingredients of paella vary, be it according to region or preference. For this version we’re making, seafood takes the spotlight; mussels, squid, crabs, and clams, among others, come together for a dish truly unforgettable.

You may find yourself intimidated by the number of ingredients in this dish. But don’t worry! In just a little over an hour, you’ll have for you and your family a full plate of seafood and carb deliciousness. Let’s dive into this Paella Marinera together!

How to Make Paella Marinera

The first step to any recipe is ensuring you have prepared all your ingredients well. For this Paella Marinera, you’ll need to prepare quite the number of ingredients. While the whole cooking process only takes an hour and five minutes, you will, of course, need to prepare your rice beforehand. This means soaking your 2 lbs of yellow rice in water, then letting it cook for 3 hours.

Clean half a pound of fresh squid, as well as 8 medium crabs. You’ll need to clean a pound of shrimp, too. For the non-seafood ingredients: slice ¾ cup of pimiento, dice 3 medium onions, and mince a head of garlic. Once you’ve readied your dish’s other components, you’re ready to start cooking!

Let’s make this Paella Marinera together. Heat a paellera or a large pan, pouring in a quarter cup of olive oil. When hot enough, you can sauté your garlic and onion pieces. Then, add in your crabs, mussels, shrimps, clams, and squid. Also pour in a hint of Tabasco sauce for that extra kick, alongside salt and ground black pepper to taste. Cover the pan and let this medley cook for about 3 minutes; the juices should really seep out at this point. The next step would be to add your tomato sauce, of which you’ll need 43 ounces. After a minute of cooking, stir your mix, then let simmer for about 4 to 5 minutes. Then, transfer your seafood onto a clean plate –– leaving the tomato sauce.

The next step would be to take your yellow rice you soaked in water, and toss it into the pan. By now, this should absorb all the juices and tomato sauce, and all those mouthwatering flavors. For five minutes, let the rice simmer in the sauce. Add your saffron in next, then gently stir.

Cover your pan, letting your rice cook on low heat until the rice is done. If you’re the type to enjoy this dish with a bit of scorched rice on the edge of the pan, you can leave your paella to cook for a little longer! When you’re satisfied, turn the heat off your stove. In the pan itself, top it with your pimiento slices, then arrange your seafood on top however way you prefer.

Your Paella is ready! Serve it alongside some lemon or lime wedges, and share and enjoy it with your loved ones!