World Paella Day

World Paella Day recognizes paella, "the most universal dish of Valencian gastronomy." It is a global celebration honoring paella as a symbol of unity and culinary diversity. It "highlights how paella has crossed borders, creating emotional and cultural connections around the world," and "invites people to share and enjoy its rich tradition, strengthening the ties between different cultures through a dish that transcends language and fills hearts."

World Paella Day was created by the Valencia City Council and supporting community organizations. The day coincides with the rice harvest in Spain. Cooks and chefs are encouraged to make paella during it. Recipes and ingredients are shared to celebrate the internationality of paella. Tastings and other events take place around the world. The capstone event is the World Paella Day Cup. During it, chefs from countries around the world compete to win an award for the best paella. Chefs who wish to participate enter by submitting a video. The public votes on chefs they want to participate, and finalists are chosen by a jury of professionals. The finalist chefs make their own recipe live in Valencia, and a World Paella Day Cup winner is chosen.

Dating to the eighteenth century, paella was created by farm laborers and rice farmers on Spain's eastern coast around Valencia, who cooked it over open fires for lunch. Original Valencian paella was made with rice, snails, meat (commonly rabbit), beans, and green vegetables. Those closest to the coast opted for eels over snails and butter beans over other vegetables. The dish is named for the paellera, the flat, wide, and round pan with handles that is used to make it.

There are three main present-day paellas. Valencian paella (paella Valencia) is commonly made with green beans, lima or butter beans, tomatoes, seasonal artichokes, and meats like chicken, pork, or rabbit. Seafood paella (paella de marisco) is made with seafood like shrimp, clams, mussels, squid, lobster, and crayfish. It has no other meat and often doesn't have vegetables either. It is a favorite on Fridays and during the summer months. Mixed paella (paella mixta) is made with any combo of meat, seafood, vegetables, and beans. It is similar to the original paella but tends to be made with chicken instead of rabbit, and other shellfish besides snails. There also is vegetable paella (paella verdura), which is often made with tomatoes, bell peppers, seasonal artichokes, green peas, and green beans.

Paella is prepared by sautéing the meat or seafood in olive oil with herbs, garlic, and onions, or with sofrito, and then removing it from the pan. Rice is then simmered, usually with saffron, which gives it its golden yellow color, and with tomatoes and stock. The rice is usually bomba rice, but can be any short- or medium-grain rice. Turmeric, paprika, garlic, rosemary, and cayenne pepper are regularly added. After simmering, the meats and seafood are mixed back in. The paella is sometimes garnished with peas, pimientos, and other vegetables.

How to Observe World Paella Day

• Make paella.
• Share your paella recipe with others.
• Attend or host a paella tasting event.
• Find information about this year's World Paella Day event.
• If you are a chef, enter to take part in the World Paella Day Cup. Observers may attend it in Valencia or watch it online.
• Read about previous World Paella Days.
• Follow the World Paella Day Instagram and Facebook pages.

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