Bomba rice (paella rice)

arroz bomba

Flavor and role

A round short-grain rice that absorbs 2-3 times its volume of stock without turning mushy. Known for holding flavor well.

Typical dishes and uses

Paella, arroz negro (squid ink rice), Spanish seafood rice dishes.

Substitutes

Calasparra or arborio 1:1. If using short-grain rice, do not rinse it, reduce the stock by 20% and do not stir.

Storage

Keep sealed in a dry place at room temperature and use within 6 months of opening.

Main countries

Spain

Used in this book

Seafood PaellaBlack Lime Chicken Machboos Paella (Emirati x Spanish)Chorizo and Prawn Jollof PaellaKabsa Chicken PaellaPilau Masala Chicken and Chorizo Paella (Kenyan x Spanish)Prawn-Head Stock Paella with AllioliTom Yum Seafood PaellaCrispy Chorizo Paella BitesJerk Chicken Rice-and-Peas Paella

Updated 2026-10-10