Spanish Cooking for Beginners: Rice, Sofrito, Tortilla & Paella

Spanish cooking rewards a strong foundation: olive oil, aromatics, careful browning, well-seasoned rice, eggs, seafood, and cured ingredients. Begin with one pan and learn how timing changes texture.

Skills to practice

• Cook onion, garlic, pepper, and tomato into a concentrated sofrito.
• Use a wide pan and even heat for rice dishes.
• Let ingredients brown before moving them.
• Rest finished rice before serving.

Start here

• Paella recipe and guide
• Empanada dough
• Potato, pepper and chorizo empanadas

Compare paella with other methods in World Rice Dishes, or return to World Cuisine.