✨ A must-try for seafood lovers and paella enthusiasts! ✨
🥘 Spanish Black Rice – Traditional Arroz Negro Recipe 🖤
Description
🔥 Bring the taste of Spain to your kitchen! This Authentic Spanish Black Rice (Arroz Negro) is a rich and flavorful seafood dish made with cuttlefish ink, fresh shrimp 🍤, squid 🦑, and a homemade seafood broth 🍲. Infused with smoky paprika, garlic 🧄, and roasted bell pepper, this one-pan rice dish delivers a deep umami taste with a crispy socarrat 🍳 at the bottom.
🌟 Why You’ll Love It:
✅ Easy to make with simple, store-bought ingredients
✅ Gluten-free & dairy-free 🌱
✅ Packed with bold, natural seafood flavors
✅ Perfect for paella lovers who want to try something new!
💛 Serve with: A squeeze of fresh lemon 🍋 and a side of creamy aioli for the ultimate Spanish experience! 🇪🇸✨
📝 Ingredients You'll Need
Sofrito Base and Flavor Structure
Proteins and Umami Boost
The Broth (Fumet)
The Rice
Extras for Serving
Instructions Step-by-Step
Preparing the Broth (Fumet) 🍲
-
Make the Seafood Broth
- In a pot, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat.
- Sauté the shrimp heads and shells until fragrant (about 2-3 minutes). 🦐
- Add fish bones, mantis shrimp or crabs, leek, and carrot. Stir well.
- Pour in 3 cups of water and let simmer for 30-40 minutes (do not boil hard).
- Strain the broth and keep warm.
- Dissolve ¾ tsp cuttlefish ink in the hot broth.
Preparing the Paella Pan 🥘
-
Sear the Shrimp and Seafood
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat.
- Add 8 whole shrimp and sear for 30 seconds per side. Remove and set aside.
- Add 2.82 oz cuttlefish and 2.82 oz squid, sautéing until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
Making the Sofrito 🌶️
-
Prepare the Flavor Base
- Lower the heat and sauté 1 finely chopped garlic clove until fragrant. 🧄
- Add 1 tsp sweet paprika and 1 tbsp ñora or choricero pepper pulp. Stir quickly.
- Pour in ⅖ cup crushed tomato and cook until it reaches a jam-like consistency.
Cooking the Rice 🍚
-
Toast and Simmer the Rice
- Stir in 1 cup + 1 tbsp of J. Sendra or Senia rice and sauté for 1 minute.
- Pour in the hot seafood broth with ink, distributing the rice evenly.
- Cooking times:
- First 5 minutes: High heat 🔥
- Next 5 minutes: Medium heat ♨️
- Final 6 minutes: Low heat 🍲
- When 6 minutes remain, return the shrimp to the pan.
Achieving the Perfect Socarrat 🔥
-
Create the Crispy Bottom Layer
In the final minute of cooking, raise the heat to high for 30-60 seconds to create the crispy socarrat at the bottom.
Resting and Serving 🍽️
-
Rest and Serve with Lemon & Aioli
- Remove the paella from heat and cover with a clean kitchen towel.
- Let it rest for 3 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Serve with lemon wedges 🍋 and a dollop of aioli (optional but recommended).
📌 Additional Note: Easy Homemade Easy Aioli Recipe 🥄
-
Want to enhance your Black Rice with authentic Spanish flavors? Try this easy homemade easy aioli! 😋
📝 Ingredients:
- 1 clove garlic, minced 🧄
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 🍋
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
🥄 Instructions:
- In a small bowl, mash the minced garlic with salt until it forms a smooth paste.
- Add mayonnaise, lemon juice, and olive oil.
- Whisk until fully combined and creamy.
- Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes before serving.
✨ Perfect for drizzling over your Black Rice! 🥘 Enjoy! 😊
Nutrition Facts
Servings 2
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 875kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 35g54%
- Saturated Fat 6g30%
- Cholesterol 215mg72%
- Sodium 1200mg50%
- Potassium 750mg22%
- Total Carbohydrate 95g32%
- Dietary Fiber 4g16%
- Sugars 6g
- Protein 40g80%
- Magnesium 60 mg
- Zinc 3 mg
- Selenium 45 mcg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
📌 Recipe Notes
- Use the Right Rice: For the best texture, use J. Sendra or Senia rice. These absorb flavors well and maintain a perfect bite. 🍚
- Can't find J. Sendra or Senia rice? No problem!
- For the best results, use Arborio rice, which is widely available in most U.S. supermarkets. If you prefer other options, Calrose rice or Short-Grain White Rice (like Goya) also work well. Avoid long-grain varieties like Basmati or Jasmine, as they don’t absorb flavors properly.
- ✅ Best alternative: Arborio rice (Whole Foods, Walmart, Trader Joe’s)
- ✅ Other good options: Calrose rice, Short-Grain White Rice (Goya)
- 🚫 Avoid: Basmati, Jasmine, Parboiled rice
- This way, you can still enjoy an authentic Spanish Black Rice with the best texture! 🥘😊
- Don’t Stir After Adding the Broth: Unlike risotto, arroz negro should not be stirred once the broth is added. This helps develop the signature socarrat (crispy bottom layer). 🔥🥘
- Seafood Substitutions: If cuttlefish is hard to find, you can substitute it with squid or baby octopus. 🦑
- Enhance the Flavor: Toasting the shrimp shells in the broth will add an extra depth of seafood flavor! 🦐
- Make It Ahead: The fumet (seafood broth) can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator for enhanced flavor.
- Pairing Tip: Serve with crusty bread and a crisp white wine (Albariño or Verdejo) for a complete Spanish dining experience! 🍷🇪🇸
Enjoy this Authentic Spanish Black Rice and bring the taste of the Mediterranean to your table! 😋🎉
User Reviews
He comprado todos los ingredientes congelados y ha salido muy tasty. Mi marido ya tiene un plato más favorito porque le encanta este sabor!