Spanish Black Rice with Cuttlefish

This black rice with cuttlefish is a traditional Spanish dish, known as arroz negro. It comes from the coastal regions of Valencia and Catalonia. Cuttlefish ink gives the rice its deep black color and a unique flavor of the sea.

Ingredients for Black Rice with Cuttlefish

• 350 g Bomba rice by La Campana
• 1 liter fish stock by El Navarrico
• 3 teaspoons cuttlefish ink by Nortindal
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf by La Barraca
• 400 g cuttlefish or squid, cleaned and sliced into rings
• 4 tablespoons Abril extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and black pepper
• Whole piquillo peppers by El Navarrico, for decoration

How to Cook the Rice

1. Warm the stock. Heat the fish stock in a pot until it simmers. Keep it warm.
2. Make the base. Heat the olive oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic and peppers. Cook for about 5 minutes until soft.
3. Add the tomatoes. Stir in the tomatoes, paprika, thyme and bay leaf. Cook for 5 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and fragrant.
4. Brown the cuttlefish. Add the sliced cuttlefish and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned.
5. Add the rice. Stir the rice into the pan so it is well coated with the other ingredients.
6. Dissolve the ink. Mix the cuttlefish ink into the warm stock until it dissolves.
7. Cook. Pour the black stock into the pan and stir once. Season with salt and pepper, depending on how salty the stock is. Boil for 10 minutes. Then lower the heat for another 8 minutes, until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
8. Rest and serve. Remove the pan from the heat and rest it for 5 minutes. Serve hot, garnished with piquillo peppers.

Tips and Serving Ideas

You can add other seafood to this black rice with cuttlefish. Prawns, mussels or clams all work well. Add them for the last few minutes of cooking. Many Spaniards serve arroz negro with a spoonful of garlic alioli on top.

Looking for more rice dishes? Browse our rice, pasta and beans or explore more Spanish recipes. Enjoy!