It’s a sunny afternoon in the Mediterranean city of Valencia， Spain. Friendly Spaniards smile and wave as you stroll① by. Suddenly， a rich， delicious smell fills your nostrils②. Up ahead， an excited group of locals is standing around a large， round pan of food that’s cooking over a fire. “Paella”—the word rolls off your tongue③ as your mouth starts to water.
Valencia’s paella is famous， but most Spanish provinces have their own versions of this traditional dish. Paella’s ingredients④ include rice， olive oil， roasted rabbit， chicken， shrimp， red and green peppers， onions， and plenty of garlic. But the key ingredient is saffron， an exotic， fragrant⑤ spice that gives paella its rich flavor and orange-yellow color.
The word “paella” comes from patella， which is Latin for “pan”. A paella pan is round， shallow， and flat， and has two large handles. It’s usually made of iron. To prepare an authentic⑥ paella， a good paella pan and a hot wood fire are essential⑦.
① strollv. 闲逛，漫步 n. 漫步，闲逛，四处流浪
② nostriln. 鼻孔
③ tonguen.舌头，舌状物；语言，说话方式
④ ingredientn. 成分，因素
⑤ fragrantadj. 芬芳的，香的
⑥ authenticadj. 可信的
⑦ essentialadj. 基本的，本质的；提炼的，精华的
西班牙海鲜饭
一个晴朗的午后，你正漫步于西班牙地中海沿岸的瓦伦西亚市，友善的西班牙人脸上挂着微笑，朝着你挥挥手。突然间，一股浓郁的香味扑鼻而来。就在正前方，一群当地人兴奋地围绕着以大圆锅盛装的食物，它正在柴火上烹煮着。你的口水直流，不假思索便从嘴里蹦出“西班牙海鲜饭”这几个字。
瓦伦西亚的海鲜饭远近驰名，但这道传统佳馐在西班牙各省多有各自的做法。海鲜饭的材料包括米、橄榄油、烤兔肉、鸡肉、虾子、红椒、青椒、洋葱以及大量的蒜头，但最关键的材料则为番红花。番红花是一种外来的香料，使得海鲜饭散发浓郁的香味并呈现橙黄的色泽。
Paella这个字源于拉丁文的patella(即“锅子”)。海鲜饭锅是圆而浅的平底锅，两边装有大把手，通常是铁制的。要作出道地的海鲜饭，一把好的锅子以及燃烧旺盛的柴火是不可或缺的。
