Mercadona, the supermarket chain is constantly adapting to the new demands of consumers by bringing out new products or should I say bringing out products to make life easier and distance ourselves from the more time-consuming traditional cooking. Every day you see more ready-made meals available, obviously, they are way behind the UK in this area but that's a good thing!
There are many people who, through social networks, echo the new products that they bring to the market by trying them and leaving reviews or videos about them. Before it was with beauty products and now, more and more, people are encouraged to share videos on their personal accounts on social networks where they cook a recipe with the products they have purchased at Mercadona. I even think I have done so in this very blog.
However recently the Masterchef finalist, Toni Carceller, published a video on his Tik Tok account cooking a Valencian paella with a new stock that Mercadona has released called “stock for meat paella over firewood”.
After explaining the process of making a Valencian paella with this stock, the Masterchef finalist, admits that "it is one of the best paella stocks" he has tried and recommends it to all those who want to achieve similar results with the minimum effort.
The product is from the Hacendado brand, Mercadon's own house brand. It comes in a 950ml glass bottle, where its properties are best preserved, and is priced at 3 euros. So one bottle would be ideal for 3 people - approx 300g of rice when using normal Senia round rice.
The ingredients contained are the following: water, chicken, crushed tomato, extra virgin olive oil, salt, sweet paprika and rosemary leaf (infused). In Toni Carceller's opinion, the stock did lack a bit of salt, which could be added just after adding the stock.
I must admit I was intrigued by the product and thought I would give it a try - I know, I would normally shy away from these "make-your-life-easier" products but what caught my eye was "over firewood" and was curious to know if they had managed to capture the firewood flavour or not. I have to admit that they did, I was quite impressed. I would really have to recommend this as a great solution for a small paella, such as a paella for two or for three. Any larger and I think I would do it myself, but for a quick and simple result, it really does hit the mark.
There is also a fumet for a seafood paella or fideua which really does give you an excellent result and takes all the hassle out of making a seafood stock.
No excuses for not making paella now, even just for two people!
Enjoy!