Here’s how to throw a perfect grilled paella feast for the end of summer—even a socially distant one.
When you think of Labor Day, paella isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. That’s why we love it. Just because grilling is a cliché for this holiday to honor workers (officially) and the last days of summer (boo), doesn’t mean you should pass up a perfectly good chance to cook outside and celebrate with friends and family. That’s what paella offers: Something unfussy, festive, communal, and best enjoyed outdoors on the grill.
If you can’t grill, we have a stovetop version of the recipe for you. And if you’re not inviting many people, there’s a scaled-down version for you too. In any case, it’s definitely better than hot dogs and hamburgers (sorry not sorry). As a bonus, it gives you a taste of travel you probably haven’t been able to enjoy otherwise this summer.
Paella is a Spanish dish of saffron-spiced rice with a variety of meats and shellfish like mussels, clams, and shrimp (as for the meat, usually not beef, but chicken, chorizo, and even rabbit—sometimes snails as well), plus onions, garlic, tomatoes, and sometimes also peas and artichokes. The rice used is generally one of several short-grain Spanish rice varieties like bomba, but if you have trouble finding it, you can swap in Calrose rice, which is pretty commonly available in U.S. grocery stores.
The dish is named after the special two-handled paella pan in which it’s prepared and served.
Lodge Carbon Steel Skillet, $49.90 from Amazon
Not sold as a paella pan, but mimics the look and feel; it also stands up to live fire (some other pans have plastic handles that might melt).
The pan is wide, shallow, and at least 13 inches in diameter. You’ll find some crazy-huge paella pans out there too, for those who love to live large. When you cook it right, you’ll find socarrat, a caramelized crust of rice at the bottom of the pan (sort of like tahdig in Iranian or Persian cuisine). That’s the good stuff.
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OK, so you’re ready to tackle paella, but wondering what goes with it? Our beverage of choice is sangría, but there are enviable nonalcoholic choices too, and we’ve handpicked some Spanish-inspired appetizers, sides, and desserts as well.
Make all of those drinks, apps, and desserts the night before, and then just toss a side salad the day of while you hang out, make a big pan of paella (or a smaller one), and chat with your family and friends in some of the last summer sun.
Related Reading on CNET: The Best Places to Order Seafood Online
Paella Feast Menu
Pick and choose your favorite accompaniments and your preferred method of cooking the main (on the grill or on the stovetop) and you’ll have a paella party to remember. It’s easy to scale back the apps for a smaller group.
White Peach Sangría
Chowhound
Catch those peaches while they’re still in season, particularly the white peaches, which are especially sugary, for this golden version of sangría. This pitcher cocktail is best after it’s had time to marinate in the refrigerator for at least four hours, if not longer. Get our Peach Sangría recipe.
Related Reading: Expert Tips for Perfect Batch Drinks Every Time
Ruby Sangría
Chowhound
Here’s your traditional sangría, with brandy, orange liqueur, and all sorts of fruit, such as apples, oranges, and grapes. It all melds together perfectly when you make a batch the night prior to the party. Get our Ruby Sangría recipe.
Mint and Lime Iced Tea
Chowhound
Here’s a nonalcoholic cocktail contender that doesn’t feel like a consolation prize. It tastes pretty special even without the buzz. And a no-hangover guarantee is included. Get our Mint and Lime Iced Tea recipe.
Stuffed Peppadew Peppers
Chowhound
Peppadews are usually sitting by the olives at the supermarket, and they’ve got that Spanish-Mediterranean flare we love. Filled with creamy goat cheese and dotted with Spanish marcona almonds is not your everyday way to enjoy them, but you’ll want to make it a daily habit once you taste them. Get our Stuffed Peppadew Peppers with Goat Cheese and Marcona Almonds recipe.
Related Reading: How to Recreate a Spanish Tapas Spread at Home
Serrano Ham and Membrillo Crostini
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You’ll get more than enough meat in the main course, but serrano ham is so special, it’s worth trotting out as part of a simple appetizer. Crunchy toasts are topped with store-bought membrillo (quince paste), crispy baked serrano, salty manchego cheese, and a drizzle of mint oil (but any good olive oil will also work). Get our Serrano Ham and Membrillo Crostini recipe.
Related Reading: What Is the Difference Between Prosciutto, Jamón Ibérico, and Jamón Serrano?
Watercress Salad with Manchego, Membrillo, and Almonds
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Membrillo and manchego team up again in this salad. Those bitter watercress leaves (one of the most nutritious of all greens!) have friendly competition in the strong manchego cheese and sweet-sharp diced membrillo. Toasted almonds lend a nutty crunch, and the simple vinaigrette is made with sherry vinegar and garlic. It’s a great bracing bite to make sure the other flavors don’t become too rich. Get our Membrillo, Manchego, and Watercress Salad recipe.
Grilled Paella Mixta (Paella with Seafood and Meat)
Chowhound
You use that aforementioned paella pan on the grill for this one-pot feast. Shrimp and mussels swim among the saffron-scented rice moistened by tomatoes, and chorizo and chicken really make it savory. Get our Grilled Paella Mixta recipe.
Santo Tomas Bomba Rice (2.2 pounds), $12.25 from Amazon
This short-grain Spanish rice absorbs huge amounts of liquid, becomes super creamy, and won't stick together. Bomba is the type of rice, so look for other brands of it in local stores.
Seafood Campfire Paella
This skillet paella feeds a smaller group and doesn’t require a special pan besides your trusty cast iron, which is perfect for using on the grill for all sorts of things, from cobbler to queso. Get the Seafood Campfire Paella recipe.
Stovetop Paella Mixta
Chowhound
For those of you who don’t have a grill, no worries. This recipe shows you how to cook this Spanish delicacy on top of the stove, and then finish it in the oven. It’s still packed with seafood and savory flavor. Get our Paella Mixta recipe. (Or make the skillet paella above on the stovetop instead.)
Alfajores
Chowhound
These gorgeous cookies may be the most sophisticated (and delicious) sandwich cookies around. The tender shortbread is dusted with powdered sugar and filled with creamy dulce de leche. Get our Alfajores recipe.
Roasted Peach and Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding
Chowhound
What a combination: roasted, in-season white peaches and the creamy, caramelized milk threaded throughout fluffy blocks of bread. It’s a fantastic dessert with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream, but the leftovers happen to make a great breakfast, so it might be even better if you don’t have a crowd. Get our Roasted Peach and Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding recipe.
Related Video: How to Make Grilled Paella
Originally reported by Amy Wisniewski in 2011; updated by Amy Sowder and Jen Wheeler.
