Introduction

In risotto rice, the starches are broken down into sugar molecules. When combined with wine, oil, and vegetables in a pot on the stovetop, this sugar is slowly cooked until it eventually caramelizes and creates a cream sauce.

Risotto rice is a type of Italian rice often used for risotto dishes. But can it be used for paella? The answer may surprise you! In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between risotto rice and paella rice and give you our verdict on whether or not risotto rice can be used for paella. Stay tuned!

What Is Risotto Rice, And Where Can I Find It?

Risotto rice is a bowl of short-grained, starchy rice most commonly grown in Italy. Its high starch content is renowned for being used in dishes such as risotto, where the starches are broken down into sugar molecules during the cooking process.

Numerous varieties of risotto rice are available on Amazon and other online retailers.  There are even recommended brands for those who want to use risotto rice for paella. We recommend using Andalucia brand rice.

What Is Paella?

Paella is a traditional Spanish dish consisting of rice, meat, saffron (and other spices), seafood, and vegetables. The region of Valencia is most famous for creating paella dishes and producing the finest paella products.

What Is Paella Rice?

Paella is a type of North-Western Spanish, seafood-based dish traditionally cooked on a flat-top iron griddle. The dish consists of seafood, meat, and vegetables cooked with olive oil, saffron, and seasonings. The starch (or, more correctly, the high level of amylose) in paella rice is converted into sugar quickly, and thus the area of the rice kernel is small. Paella rice has a higher starch content than risotto rice. In addition, paella is a more traditional Spanish dish with regional variations such as Valencian paella and Catalan paella.

Can I Use Risotto Rice To Make A Traditional Paella Dish At Home?

Because risotto rice is a type of Italian rice most commonly used for risotto dishes and contains less starch than paella rice, your dish will be a rather runny, thinly-textured dish.

Although traditional Spanish paella is usually made using paella rice, a short-grain Spanish white rice, other grains may be substituted to create an equally tasty dish. Rice varieties such as short-grain brown rice and long-grain brown rice are popular alternatives to paella.

If Not, What Type Of Rice Should I Use For Paella Instead?

You can use short-grain rice such as arborio rice to make paella rice. Arborio rice is widely used in Italian cooking because of its quality and flavor. Arborio rice is famous risotto rice used to make traditional Italian dishes such as risotto. However, arborio rice is not the same as paella rice. Because it lacks the starch content of paella, Arborio will create a far runnier dish than traditional paella. Desi arborio is an Indian variety of arborio rice used to make Italian and South Asian dishes.

Can I Use Basmati Rice For Paella?

Basmati or jasmine rice does not contain the same starches as risotto rice and cannot be used for paella. Because it lacks starch, basmati will become soggy when cooked with liquid. Basmati rice is most commonly used in Indian dishes.

Can I Use Long Grain Rice For Paella?

Long grain rice such as jasmine or Texmati would not be the best choice for making paella. 

Long-grain rice has less starch than risotto and is more bland and starchy. Long-grain white rice varieties are best known for creating fried, boiled, and jambalaya dishes.

Can I Use Brown Rice For Paella?

Brown rice does not contain starches, so it cannot be used for paella.

Since I Cannot Make Paella With Risotto Rice, How Do I Create A Perfect Risotto Dish Every Time, Without Fail?

The key to making a good risotto dish is incorporating the correct rice ratio to liquid. The rice will absorb the liquid, creating a creamy consistency and an unexpectedly delicious dish.

The ratio of rice to drink can be calculated based on weight or volume. For example, one cup of liquid per cup of rice is close enough if you make homemade risotto with dry ingredients such as stock and vegetables. However, this method for commercial paella recipes would result in a very runny risotto. Therefore, we recommend using the “1:1 ratio” of rice to liquid popular in Spanish cuisine.

The standard ratio for paella recipes is 1 cup of rice: and 1.4 cups of water. An excellent balance between remembering is 1 cup of rice and 0.8 cups of water for risotto dishes. If you’re using arborio rice, you can use a slightly looser ratio of 1 cup arborio rice: 1 cup water (as opposed to the far runnier 0.8 cups found in most paella recipes) because it has more starch than most types of white rice. 

Recipe For Classic Italian-Style Risotto Recipe

1.  Start by heating your broth or stock.

2. In a large saucepan, add your arborio rice and sauté for 2-3 minutes to release the rice’s flavors and remove excess starch outside the grains.

3. Once heated, add 1 cup broth or stock and chopped vegetables (onions, mushrooms, carrots, peas) and cook over medium heat until almost fully dissolved (7-10 minutes).

4. Stir occasionally while cooking so your risotto doesn’t stick to the bottom of the saucepan.

5. Add the wine and cook for 5-10 minutes.

6. While your risotto cooks, prepare your other ingredients (shrimp, chicken, cheese).

Conclusion

Risotto is a simple and delicious dish that doesn’t require special tools or ingredients. It can be prepared using standard kitchen equipment in about 1 hour but can be done in less time if you have your everyday kitchen items ready. But it is not an ideal substitute to make paella.

If you want to make the most of your risotto rice recipe, try different combinations of ingredients to give your risotto a different taste and texture. You can also try using seafood, meat, or vegetables for a different flavor profile. Enjoy cooking!