Paella is the quintessentially Spanish rice dish to be enjoyed amongst friends. This recipe uses Denia’s locally caught fish and shellfish to make an authentic regional seafood paella.
Ingredients – serves 4
- 1,5 kg. assorted small fish (morralla)
- 200 gr. cuttlefish (chopped)
- 350 gr. rice
- 300 gr. prawn from Dénia
- 4 dried red pepper (ñora)
- 1 laurel leaf
- 2 bulbs of garlic (cabezas de ajo)
- Parsley (perejil)
- Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of minced tomato
- 3 L. of water or fish broth (caldo de pescado)
- Salt
- 1 pinch of pepper (pimienta)
- 1 teaspoon of saffron (azafrán) and/or colourant
- 1 tablespoon of paprika (pimentón)
Method
- In a big pan, fry (with olive oil) 4 dried red pepper and two bulbs of garlic. Then, add 1.5 kg. of varied fish made of scorpion fish, mackerel, angler fish head, crabs, mantis shrimp, etc. and 3 L. of water. Allow it to cook at medium heat until it boils.
- Crush the fish, strain the broth and set aside. In a “paella” pan, fry the chopped cuttlefish and some peeled prawn’s tails with Olive oil.
- Then, add the natural grated tomato and minced parsley-garlic, the rice, the paprika and sauté.
- Next, add the fish broth, a pinch of saffron and boil at a medium flame for approximately 15 minutes (when it has been boiling for several minutes, salt to taste).
- Lower the flame and wait as the broth is consumed. When the broth has boiled away, shut off the flame.
- This dish is served with “all i oli” (garlic and olive oil sauce).
Recipe Contributor: Department of Tourism, Dénia City Council
Dénia was named UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in December 2015, then becoming a food reference worldwide. Apart from its excellent gastronomy, we highlight its impressive natural resources: long sandy beaches, rocky coves, the Montgó Mountain Natural Park and San Antonio’s Cape Marine Reserve. Such spaces and an enviable weather make Dénia a unique place to do a great variety of sports and leisure activities, not only in the sea but also on land.
Among its infrastructures we emphasize: 4 marinas and the 27-hole golf course called La Sella.
The town attracts our attention by its traditional atmosphere: the Castle, in the middle of the town, the old neighborhoods and the fishing port. You can also enjoy cultural activities, lively events and fiestas. The main fiestas are: The “Fallas”, the “Festa Major” and the Moors and Christians Festival.
Further information in
For further information please visit Department of Tourism, Dénia City Council website www.denia.net/en