Just as much as I appreciate a quick and simple meal, I also really enjoy making more involved meals when I have the opportunity. For me, so much of the joy of cooking is in the process. I love spending time in the kitchen, taking care in each step to make a meal the best it can be. This year, as a birthday gift to myself, I made this paella to share with friends. Just the chance to prepare this dish and the challenge of trying something new and involved was exactly what I wanted.
Now I know there are lots of quicker versions of paella out there, but I wanted to go for the real thing. I saw this recipe in a magazine last summer and immediately knew that it was the version I wanted to make when I got around to trying it. Despite the multiple steps involved, this actually took less time than I expected. Now I’ve never had paella in Spain so I can’t compare, but this turned out even better than I was hoping for. My only disappointment was that the texture of the rice seemed a bit creamier than is typical of paella, and I know that is due to the fact that I didn’t use bomba rice because I couldn’t find it anywhere. I’m already looking forward to trying again with the correct type of rice, and maybe with other combinations of protein besides just seafood. If you enjoy cooking for the sake of cooking, I definitely recommend paella. It is fun to make and the final product is something to be proud of.