This recipe for paella cooked over an open fire is ideal for hosting a gathering! It serves eight and pairs wonderfully with Spanish cheese and sangria.
Have you attempted to prepare paella over an open flame? There’s truly nothing like coming together around a fire, enjoying the delightful aroma of a meal, and sharing from the same dish. It has a stunning presentation, and you can learn to create this classic Spanish dish right in your own kitchen.
Alex and I share a long journey of discovering how to make paella, stretching back to my college years 15 years ago and culminating just a few months ago in Valencia, Spain. This recipe stems from all those experiences. Our years of study bore fruit when a Spanish friend tried this recipe and enthusiastically approved it. Here’s the process for making this seafood paella recipe over an open fire!
My Paella Story
I had my first taste of paella 15 years ago in Madrid as a young university student. My host mother radiated joy as she served her homemade paella for Sunday dinner.
After I introduced paella to my husband Alex in the early 2000s, we began making it regularly for special occasions. Valentine’s Day? Paella. A special guest in town? Paella.
We watched videos from Spanish chefs and learned about paella pans, using saffron, and selecting the correct type of rice. We experimented with various recipes from credible sources. We crafted several seafood paella recipes and vegetarian variations for this website. Our veggie paella recipe is included in our cookbook, Pretty Simple Cooking.
A few years ago, I finally made my way back to Spain with Alex (and our toddler Larson) so he could enjoy authentic Spanish paella. One of our most cherished moments from that journey was relishing paella in a quaint village just outside of Valencia.
Alex scoured the internet for a genuine paella spot, and we arrived one Sunday afternoon at a modest concrete structure in a tranquil town. To our delight, it was bustling with locals savoring enormous paella pans with their families! We ordered a “paella for 3” with our son Larson and had a wonderful afternoon finishing off our large pan. This paella draws inspiration from that experience.
~Sonja
All About Paella
Paella is a Spanish dish that originated in Valencia and is now enjoyed globally. As an American, I am pleased to see more people in my country experiencing the delight of paella.
This paella recipe was crafted utilizing our extensive knowledge from years of research, conversations with Spaniards and Spanish chefs, and plenty of practice. I have utilized most of the essential equipment and ingredients. Most of this equipment and ingredients are easily accessible for today’s American kitchen.
Although it might seem overwhelming if you’ve never tried it before, with practice, you’ll discover you can refine your paella over time. This is a seafood paella (paella de mariscos) akin to those I enjoyed in Valencia and Barcelona.
Is This An Authentic Paella Recipe?
Spaniards have varying opinions on this subject: we’ve tasted paella in Valencia, Barcelona, and Madrid, and each one has been remarkably different. For purists, the traditional Valencian paella comprises chicken, rabbit, garrofó (a type of lima bean), saffron, and rosemary. However, paellas of all varieties can be found throughout Spain: it’s a classic dish with numerous adaptations.
This recipe has been fine-tuned over years of learning from genuine sources. Of all the paella recipes we’ve created, this one is the closest to an authentic paella. We’ve utilized a traditional paella pan, saffron, pimentón, bomba rice, and an open fire. Even better, our Spanish friend sampled this recipe and gave it enthusiastic approval! That’s the best validation we could wish for.
How Should I Cook Paella Over an Open Fire?
For this seafood paella recipe, Alex constructed a custom makeshift paella grill using 8 concrete blocks from our local hardware store: and it cost just $10! We then placed the grate from our standard grill on top.
This setup allowed us to easily prepare the paella on our deck. You can also cook it over a campfire using any method you have to hold the grate 8 to 10 inches above the flames. It’s beneficial to use a hardwood like hickory or oak to easily maintain the fire temperature, but any wood will suffice.
Can I Use A Grill To Cook Paella?
If your grill is large enough, you can certainly prepare paella on a grill. However, on a charcoal grill, it may be challenging to keep the right temperature for the paella. If you’d like to use a grill, refer to our Simple Grilled Seafood Paella recipe that utilizes a smaller paella pan and serves four.