At Home In The Costa Blanca - History Of Paella

Once you buy a home in the Costa Blanca you will soon become very familiar with the local addiction of gathering together to share a Paella. Whilst it is a dish that is known worldwide and synonimus with Spanish cuisine on an international level, this dish is had very humble beginnings in the rice fields of Valencia. This makes it a very local and important dish to everybody who lives in the Costa Blanca or in the Valencian Community as a whole.

Humble Beginnings in Valencia

Although there are now many variations of this dish making a definitive recipe difficult to provide, so many ingredients can and are now incorporated into Paella with families having their own favourite variation. The origin of the dish however were humble, Valencia is the undisputed home of this dish having one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean it has been an important area for the production of rice since the Moors first introduced this grain 1200 years ago. Originally the dish was designed by farmers and their labourers who would cook the lunchtime meal over an open fire to be shared by all the workers. It was made with rice and whatever was available near by in the fields including tomatoes, onion and snails with a few beans for flavour and texture. On special occasions rabbit, chicken or duck might also be added plus a little saffron for colour and flavour. The meal was a communal affair traditionally eaten from the dish it was cooked in with everyone using their own wooden spoon to scoop up their tasty share.

The Evolution of Paella in the Costa Blanca

Valencian rice gradually became more widely available and along the Costa Blanca various types of seafood crept into recipes in the generations that followed. The Spice trading routes are also an important part of the history of Valencia and its cuisine which is why saffron is more easily accessible and not overly expensive in the Costa Blanca. This is now an important addition to most Paella dishes along with beans and artichokes. The dish gained popularity outside of Valencia in the 19th century and eventually made its way around the world as a symbol of Spanish cuisine. Many regions now have their own variations with unique characteristices. Paella as a result has become the generic name for more than 200 rice dishes from the region of Valencia and other parts of Spain, some variations have also been adopted in other parts of the world. However, no true Paella Valenciana will have seafood in it but, will still consist of chicken, rabbit, snails and green and white beans.

Where did the name come from?

The food itself derived its name from the pan in which it is cooked with Paella most likely being a word originating in an old version of the Valencian dialect with its roots in the Latin word Patella meaning pan. These pans are made from either iron or steel and are shallow and wide to enable the distribution of heat that is essential to the cooking process. This allows for the socarrat (the crispy caramalised bottom layer of rice) to form which is often considered to be the best bit of the meal. However, there are other more romantic theories about the origin of the name of the pan used to cook this rice dish, one of the nicest possibly is that of the lover who prepared the dish for his fiancée “para ella” meaning for her, this then being corrupted into the shorter word Paella that we know today. Another possibility given the influence of the Moors in the Costa Blanca region is that it is derived from the Arabic workd for leftovers Baqiyah.

Sociable Food for families and friends living in the Costa Blanca

Today Paella is a unique in Spain for bringing people together. It is not just that families will gather in restaurants or in the Costa Blanca home to enjoy a pan of Paella together on a regular basis, it might also be enjoyed a picnic venues by the sea or in the mountains. There are Paella cooking competitions throughout Spain and those living in the Costa Blanca will know that it is frequently the centre piece for communities to share at town or village fiestas. Everyone enjoys the social atmosphere created both while cooking as well as eating this rice dish. Although the kitchen is often a woman’s domain in Spain, a bit like BBQ in other parts of the world, Paella making is traditionally left to the men of the house or community. 

Conclusion

Whether you enjoy a traditional Valencian paella or a hearty seafood creation from a town in the Costa Blanca, this iconic rice dish is a tasty way to enjoy a meal with family, friends and neighbours. So why not enjoy a house warming in your Costa Blanca home by firing up the paella pan and enjoying this iconic flavour of our beloved Mediterranean region.