Calling paella experts

henapple · September 2013

Trial run on the rice. I've never had this dish so I'm not sure what to expect. The rice didn't gum up but seemed undercooked. Great taste but crunchy... And not just the bottom. Followed nw's recipe to the tee, even the temps. The rice never popped... I waited and finally took it off. Should I gave waited more mixing the rice with the sofrito?

Thanks

travisstrick · September 2013

I had some paella a few times in Key West. It was made by some legit cubans but I was too "happy" to recall what it was like.

caliking · September 2013

I'm not an expert, but the rice may have been undercooked. Did you have enough fluid to cook the rice, or if you did how much was left when you took it off the egg?

Paella should have the rice cooked, but the bottom crunchy (the socarrat). Once you add the final ingredients to the pan, you don't stir it so that the bottom layer is undisturbed and gets crunchified.

ringkingpin · September 2013

I dare say that I might be an expert and at the least, pretty experienced with making paellas. I've made many, many, over the past 12 years.

I don't know the recipe you're talking about, I usually shoot from the hip and with feel but it's a fine balance between throwing in the various ingredients according to how long it takes to cook them, enough liquid to fully cook the rice, not too much liquid and building the socarrat.

At a certain point, I totally stop stirring it for quite some time until it's done. It sounds like you might not have had enough liquid or you didn't wait long enough.

henapple · September 2013

I went by the naked whiz recipe...

Botch · September 2013

You said you'd followed a recipe to a tee, but also "trial run on the rice"; so you didn't include the meats/other ingredients? Those extra ingredients, added later, would cool the mixture (except for the bottom) allowing the liquid to stay longer; that would explain why the upper levels of rice were undercooked. I think.

Richard Fl · September 2013

Luv the dish! Here are a few ways I do them.

http://www.greeneggers.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=1273194&catid=1

http://www.greeneggers.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=1193633&catid=1

http://www.greeneggers.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=1174114&catid=1

lousubcap · September 2013

Not claiming to be an eggspert but have done several TNW recipe paella's in the past 18 months. Always heard the rice crackle and form the soccarat. A key factor is shutting the dome when in the stretch-run. I'm with @Botch on a possible factor. Beyond that-back on the horse. And it is well worth it.

TexanOfTheNorth · September 2013

Was all the rice under cooked or just the top layer? At the point where my liquid is starting to fall below the top layer of the rice I test a few grains of rice for doneness. I'll (gently, so as not to disturb the rice) add more liquid if those grains are not fully cooked. You can also put foil over your paella pan during the last 15-20 minutes to help the top layer cook. It's possible that closing the lid of your egg might do the same thing... may pan handles will not allow my egg to close completely.

fishlessman · September 2013

my attempts havent been good and i just stopped making them

) some things ive learned though is not to pile it on in the pan, thin paella can be better. sofrito is not needed and may make it pastier if used too heavy. the idea is to flavor the rice with the broths

Calling paella experts

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