Paella and Risotto - what is the difference?

[PavlovtheCat]

We usually have risotto. Is it just one made with risotto rice and the other not? What else?

They're spelt differently.

And risotto is lovely. Paella is yucky.

. But how do you know you prefer risotto to paella, what is yucky about paella?

The seafood that's always lurking in it although Valencian paella has beans, meat and green veg in it. Most people hide pesky little crustaceans and squiddy type stuff in it though.

I think the rice is the key difference and they are cooked slightly differently. The risotto should be sticky, creamy and starchy which is achieved by constant stirring, the paella should be more grainy so you stir less.

oh right, the seafood, consistency and graininess....I think I want risotto then....

yes, you stir risotto, you don't stir paella. but the rice is pretty much the same (one is italian and one spanish but you can use them interchangably). you can have all kinds of paella, including veggie, meat only, fish only, or a mix. i love paella and risotto.

risotto should be sticky - paella is drier.
Paella is a specific dish with specific ingredients, risotto is a more general term

Paella is lovely when cooked properly.
Risotto always resembles rice pud - bluergh

I might get Dh to cook paella for a change, see if we like it. He makes fantastic risotto, with white wine and either chicken or white fish. Nothing like rice pud, but I have had bad risotto that was cooked too long!

Risotto is made from short grain rice and is stirred constantly during cooking so that the edges of the rice disintegrate slightly and make a creamy sauce.
Paella, although it is also made from short grain rice is not stirred so often so the rice stays more firm. A 'paella' is the name of the large pan it is cooked in. It has a very wide bottom as traditionally the best part of the dish is the crust that forms at the bottom.

Risotto is supposed to be sloppy

carmenere - I was going to post that DH makes it a touch sloppy and I like that about it, but thought maybe he was cooking it all wrong!!!