Calasparra Rice - 1Kg

Product Information

Arroz con costra is one of the hidden gems of the Spanish rice world. It's also one of the oldest Spanish dishes with rice ever recorded—a recipe for it dating from the year 1220 still exists! Calasparra rice is ideal for paella, but you can use it in other dishes like risottos or salads to add sweetness to your meal. Some of these types of rice are very easy to locate at your local supermarket and will not be an issue to find when you are shopping. Another of the most famous Spanish rice dishes abroad, arroz con pollo and its variations are hugely popular in Latin America as well. It originally developed in Spain and made its way to the Americas over the years.

With its rich creamy texture and ability to absorb any flavors it’s cooked with, paella rice is prized even outside of Spanish cooking.Seasonings: Use traditional paella seasonings like paprika, garlic, and thyme to enhance the flavors.

It’s not just limited to making paella dishes but suits many uses including a simple rice and beans dish. Calasparra rice is capable of absorbing massive amounts of liquid; that’s why it’s a good choice for a paella rice substitute. You can achieve the same creamy texture that’s loaded with flavor. Paella is supposed to be dry. Paella is cooked in broth but isn’t determined to be finished until all the broth is reduced and a caramelized film is on the bottom of your paella pan. Final Thoughts Socarrat (Optional): Short grain rice can develop a socarrat, the crispy layer at the bottom of the paella, but it might require some extra attention and a little patience. Toward the end of cooking, you can turn up the heat to encourage the formation of the crust. Be careful not to burn it, and it might not be as pronounced as with Bomba rice. It’s not just for paella either. Calasparra rice is a great substitute for any short-grain rice recipe. 2. Arborio RiceToast the Orzo: Before adding the liquid, you can toast the orzo in a little bit of olive oil in the pan. This step is optional but can add a nice nutty flavor to the dish. Do not add spice. To all of the spicy food lovers this may be a tough one for you. Adding spicy peppers or hot sauce is an absolute no. If you want to add a touch of smokiness add saffron which is a signature ingredient or even paprika. Although saffron is not always available at local supermarkets, it can be easily found on Amigofoods. But if you do find yourself in Spain one day try bringing home some saffron as a souvenir, you won’t regret it! Saffron– a signature part of paella is the warm yellow tinge of the rice and delicate saffron flavour. Saffron is expensive, even more expensive than gold by weight! So if your budget won’t stretch to real saffron threads, use a pinch of saffron powder (it’s artificial but will provide the same colour hit and some flavour – but don’t worry, we have tons of other flavour in this paella!);

Using orzo pasta as a substitute for paella rice can work well and produce a tasty dish. However, it’s important to note that the texture and cooking process will be different. Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta, so it won’t absorb liquids in the same way as traditional paella rice. However, you can still create a delicious paella-inspired dish with orzo. Here’s how: This substitute won’t have any significant difference in the flavor of your dish but does have a slightly different texture.

Adjust Cooking Time: Jasmine rice cooks faster than paella rice, so you’ll need to reduce the cooking time. Depending on the variety and brand, jasmine rice generally cooks in about 10-12 minutes.