Costa Blanca, home of rice dishes

If you like rice, you can indulge your taste buds with the cuisine of the Costa Blanca. There are so many rice dishes to choose from: soupy, dry, or sticky, with vegetables, fish, seafood, of meat… In the areas nearest the Mediterranean Sea most recipes are made with fish and shellfish, while further inland you often find options combining meat, pulses and vegetables. There are also local specialities that are prepared differently depending on the area.In the province of Alicante you’ll find many restaurants specialising in rice dishes. We recommend booking ahead and ordering your dish in advance, especially if you’ll be in a large group.These are some of the traditional rice dishes you can try:Arroz a banda: cooked in a casserole with bony little rockfish, and then served without the fish - but with all their flavour. You can order this anywhere in Alicante province, but it is traditional in the Marina Alta district.

Arroz negro: black rice, its colour comes from the ink of the tiny cuttlefish used to make it. It is usually served decorated with prawns and pieces of red peppers, and accompanied by alioli sauce (made with olive oil, egg, lemon and garlic).Arroz del Senyoret: made with fish and shellfish, the name “senyoret” suggests someone rather posh, because everything is served peeled and ready to eat so the diners don’t get their hands dirty.Arroz con conejo y caracoles: rice, rabbit, snails and saffron are the main ingredients of this dish, traditionally cooked over a wood fire in a paella pan. Typical of the Alto Vinalopó and Medio Vinalopó districts.