Can you cook paella in a normal pan?

Can you use a normal pan for paella?

Paella experts like the thin carbon steel pans that heat fast and don’t retain too much heat. You can substitute a stainless steel or aluminum skillet, but cast-iron and nonstick pans are discouraged. … Real paella, I learned, is all about the rice. And, you can’t use just any rice.

Can you cook paella in a saucepan?

Paellas on the Stovetop

If you are preparing paella for two to four people, you can cook it on the stovetop, using a large, heavy-bottom frying pan at least 2.5 to 3-inches deep. If you have a 12-inch paella pan, you can definitely use it on a large gas burner.

What is the best pan to cook paella in?

Carbon Steel Paella Pan. Carbon steel is the most traditional and the best cooking surface for paella. This material has a manageable weight and heats up quickly and evenly. The tin base quickly responds to heat change, reducing the risk of overcooking.

What else can you cook in a paella pan?

Use it for searing steaks, chicken cutlets, fish fillets, and roasts; as a griddle for pancakes, bacon, and other breakfast treats; for stir-frying in place of a wok; as a stand-in for a roasting pan; and even for cooking over a campfire.

Should you cover paella when cooking?

Paella is very durable. You can keep it in a warm oven, covered with foil for at least an hour or two. Back in the day it was left out and eaten cool (or what passed for cool in the dusty fields of Spain). Serve paella nicely warm, not steaming hot.

How long does paella rice take to cook?

Cook for about eight minutes – if the dish looks very dry before the rice has cooked completely then add the rest of the stock, bearing in mind it shouldn’t be at all soupy. 4. Cover the dish with foil and take off the heat. Allow to rest for 10 minutes then garnish with flat-leaf parsley and wedges of lemon.

How do you know when paella is done?

To test whether the paella is cooked, use a spoon to taste a little rice from the edge of the pan – this rice will be cooked last as it’s the furthest away from the heat in the centre. When ready, the rice should be tender yet firm to the bite. If it’s not cooked, pour over a little more hot stock or boiling water.

Can you cook paella without a lid?

Please don’t cover the Paella while cooking, but you can cover it after taking out of the oven to keep your food warm. About 3 inches deep and a wide pan is a great shape for cooking Paella.

Can I use a wok instead of a paella pan?

As you know, a paella pan is a wide and shallow pan, while a wok has tall, sloping sides and a smaller base. A wok is amazing at cooking dishes quickly. It holds heat in the pan amazingly well. … So, you can use a large frying pan to create paella if you don’t have a paella pan, but not a wok.

Can I use jasmine rice for paella?

We love using medium grain or jasmine rice. … The short, round grains are perfect for Paella and absorb liquid really well, which makes it the ideal rice for Paella.

What can you substitute for paella rice?

The unique quality of paella rice is that it absorbs more liquid than other types of rice without getting bloated and mushy, making it ideal for a dish like paella where you want the rice to absorb loads of flavour. Best substitute for paella rice is risotto rice (arborio rice) which has similar characteristics ie.

What should I look for in a paella pan?

A good guideline is to choose the largest size pan that will work for your heat source. That’s because the larger your pan, the thinner the layer of rice, and that translates into a more delicious paella. Some customers find that it makes more sense to buy two smaller size pans rather than one large one.

How many people does a 50cm paella pan feed?

Paella Pan Serving Guide