There's an old folk tale dating back to the Spanish war of Independence fought against France (1808-1814). A French general had tasted a local woman's paella. He was so impressed by the dish that he promised the woman he'd release one Spanish prisoner of war for every new rice dish she prepared. After the release of 176 prisoner, the French general was unceremoniously released from his position by his superiors. According to the woman she had more rice dishes to offer. The moral of the story is that there's more to Spanish rice dishes than paella.

Rice has been grown in the Mediterranean for more than two thousand years. Spain's rice consumption really took off when the Arabs conquered Spain's southeastern shores in the eighth century A.D. The Muslims planted rice in the fertile soil around Valencia, irrigating the rice paddies with a complicated network of dikes and canals. In the wetlands around Albufera, some of these watercourses can still be seen.

Cuisine based on rice still thrives in southeastern Spain. Around Valencia, Paella is still the most popular. Cooks around Valencia are still fundamentally passionate about what can or can not go into paella. Not in the mood for paella? how aboud arros amb fesols i naps? A soupy rice dish made with duck, beans, root vegetables, pork and blood sausage. In Cullera you can find lobster rice with skate and wild garlic shoots. Don't forget about arroz meloso with morels and spring vegetables. Well, you get the idea. Spain has no shortage of rice dishes for every occasion.

Spanish rice, used for all these dishes, is a round, medium-short grain, grown mostly in the provinces of Valencia and Albacete. These regions produce short and medium grains considered ideal for Spanish rice dishes because they absorb large quantities of liquid and flavors from other ingredients. It's especially valued for use in soupy dishes because it doesn't "flower" or open up and become mushy. If Spanish rice isn't available substitute another medium or short grain rice such as arboria. When rice is cooked as a side dish use your favorite long grain rice.

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