Fideuá Gallo: the flavour of the best pasta

To talk about fideuá is to talk about one of those dishes that sum up the character of Mediterranean cooking very well: intense flavour, simple ingredients and a preparation that invites you to share. Traditionally linked to the Valencian coast, and especially to Gandía, fideuá has over time become a much-appreciated recipe throughout Spain for its ability to bring together seafood, fish, sofrito and pasta in a single dish full of nuance. The best-known version of this dish is made with specific noodles, designed to absorb the stock well and keep a pleasant texture while cooking.

Buy fideuá Gallo

Fideuá Gallo is a very popular option for those who want to prepare this recipe at home with a pasta designed specifically for it. One of the advantages of fideuá Gallo is precisely its versatility. You don't need to be a cooking expert to get a good result, but it is worth starting from a suitable pasta. The quality of the noodle matters because it largely determines how it absorbs the stock, how well it holds up during cooking and what final texture the dish will have. In fideuá, balance is essential: the noodles should be tasty, soaked in the base of the stew, but without clumping together or losing their shape. Besides, fideuá has something especially appealing compared with other spoon or pan dishes: it allows many interpretations without losing its essence. It can be made with cuttlefish, prawns, fish stock, monkfish, baby squid or even simpler everyday versions. It also goes well with accompaniments such as alioli, which enhances the flavour of the seafood and adds creaminess to the whole. Having a pasta like fideuá Gallo is useful both for a special weekend meal and for a homemade recipe to break the routine.

Fideuá recipe with fideuá Gallo

If you want to enjoy a tasty fideuá at home, this recipe is a simple way to prepare it. The idea is to achieve a balanced dish, with a good depth of flavour and a pleasant texture in the noodle.

Ingredients for 4 people

• 400 g of fideuá Gallo
• 250 g of peeled prawns or king prawns
• 300–400 g of cuttlefish or baby squid, chopped
• 1 ripe grated tomato or 2 tablespoons of crushed tomato
• 2 or 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• about 1 litre of fish or seafood stock
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Sweet paprika
• A few strands of saffron or food colouring, optional
• Alioli to serve, optional

Step 1: prepare the flavour base

Put a paella pan or large frying pan on the heat with a generous splash of olive oil. First sauté the cuttlefish or baby squid for a few minutes, until they start to brown slightly and release some of their water. Then add the prawns or king prawns and sauté them briefly.

Step 2: make the sofrito

In the same pan, add the minced garlic and let it cook for a few seconds without burning. Add the grated tomato and cook over medium heat until it reduces and concentrates the flavour. At this point you can add a pinch of sweet paprika and, if you like, a few strands of saffron.

Step 3: add the fideuá Gallo

Add the pasta and sauté it for one or two minutes together with the sofrito. This step helps the noodle soak up the flavour of the base and improves the final result.

Step 4: add the stock

Pour the hot stock over the pasta. The proportion can vary a little depending on the heat and the pan, but a usual reference for 4 people is around 1.5 litres; other recipes work with somewhat smaller amounts depending on the ingredients and the type of cooking. The important thing is to keep an eye on the noodle and adjust if needed. Stir only at the beginning to distribute the ingredients well. After that, let the fideuá cook over medium heat. Add the prawns again if you had removed them. The pasta is usually ready in about 7 to 9 minutes.

Step 5: let it rest and serve

When the stock has been absorbed and the noodle is done, remove from the heat and let the fideuá rest for a few minutes. That short rest helps the dish settle and gain texture. You can serve it as it is or with a little alioli, a very typical combination that gives it an extra touch of intensity and creaminess. The result is a tasty, aromatic and very rewarding dish, perfect for a family meal or for treating yourself at home without too much fuss.

Your Spanish Shop: where nostalgia is cooked too

At Your Spanish Shop we don't see Spanish products as mere pantry items. We see them as gateways to customs, flavours and moments that can be enjoyed even from far away. Fideuá Gallo is part of that idea: an everyday product, yes, but also a way to return to a family meal, a quiet Sunday or that dish you feel like sharing.