Hey everyone, so I tried to make some paella the other day, and I thought, “What the heck should I serve with this?” I mean, paella’s great and all, but you gotta have something on the side, right?
So, first, I went digging around the internet. Found some people saying you gotta really caramelize your ingredients when you’re making paella. I thought, “Alright, I can do that.” I chopped up some chicken, squid, and artichokes and threw them in the pan. I made sure they got all nice and browned, almost burned a little, just like the internet said.
Then, I added some water to the pan. All those little burned bits just dissolved into the water, making this awesome, flavorful base. I was pretty proud of myself at this point. But still, what to serve with it?
I stumbled upon something called a “1905 Salad.” Never heard of it before, but it sounded fancy. Turns out, it’s some signature dish from a famous place, and people seem to love it with paella. “Why not?” I thought. So I grabbed the ingredients – lettuce, tomatoes, olives, the whole nine yards – and whipped it up. It was actually pretty simple.
But I didn’t stop there. I found this guide online that listed, like, 33 different things you can serve with paella. 33! Who knew there were so many options? I picked out a few that sounded good and easy to make. Some roasted vegetables, garlic bread, a simple green salad – you know, the usual stuff.
- Caramelize the Ingredients:
- Chop up chicken, squid, and artichokes.
- Sear them in a hot pan until well-browned, almost to the point of burning.
- Create the Flavor Base:
- Add water to the pan, allowing the caramelized bits to dissolve and infuse the liquid.
- Prepare the 1905 Salad:
- Gather ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, and olives.
- Toss together to create the salad.
- Explore Additional Side Options:
- Research various side dish suggestions from an online guide.
- Select a few appealing and simple options like roasted vegetables, garlic bread, and a green salad.
- Finalize the Meal:
- Combine the prepared paella with the selected side dishes.
- Serve and enjoy the well-rounded meal.
The steps of my cooking are roughly like this:
In the end, I had this whole spread laid out. The paella was looking delicious with all that caramelized goodness, the 1905 salad was looking fresh and tasty, and the other sides were all ready to go. I called the family over, and we dug in. Let me tell you, it was a hit! Everyone loved the paella, and the sides were a perfect match.
So, yeah, that’s my little paella adventure. It’s not just about the paella itself, but also about what you serve it with. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. You might just surprise yourself!
