Seafood Paella — A Mediterranean Celebration at Taperia La Mina
Our Seafood Paella is the ultimate expression of Spain’s coastal rice-cooking tradition. A generous medley of the Mediterranean’s finest treasures — plump mussels, sweet prawns, tender squid rings, and briny clams — is cooked together with saffron-infused rice in a wide paella pan. Each grain of rice absorbs the briny, saffron-scented broth created by the seafood, resulting in a dish that is vibrant, aromatic, and utterly irresistible.
Selecting the Finest Seafood
The quality of a seafood paella depends entirely on the freshness and variety of its ingredients. At Taperia La Mina, we select each component with care: mussels that are tightly closed and heavy with seawater, prawns with bright, firm flesh, squid that is sweet and tender, and clams that are alive and brimming with brine. We source our seafood daily from the fish markets of Benidorm and the nearby port of Villajoyosa, ensuring that every paella is made with the freshest catch.
The Art of Seafood Paella
Cooking seafood paella requires careful timing, as each ingredient cooks at a different rate. The squid goes in first, as it needs the longest cooking time. The rice and saffron broth are added next, followed by the prawns, and finally the mussels and clams, which need only a few minutes to open. The pan is covered for the final minutes, creating a steamy environment that opens the shells and allows their briny liquor to mingle with the rice. The result is a paella where every element is cooked to perfection.
Pairing and Serving
Our seafood paella is a feast for the senses and deserves a wine that matches its vibrancy. A glass of Albariño from Galicia or a crisp Muscadet from the Loire is the perfect pairing — their minerality and acidity complement the briny sweetness of the seafood beautifully. Celebrate the Mediterranean at Taperia La Mina.