As much as I love to cook, I find that cooking can be a bit of a pain during the summer months. Generally speaking, the sweltering heat can put quite a damper on my appetite and I’ll always prefer to be doing something outdoors instead of staying inside slaving over the stove or cleaning up a huge mess (I will use up every square inch of counter space no matter how much I am given). In such times, I especially appreciate simple one pot meals that aren’t labor intensive but still incredibly tasty. Enter paella. Paella, which literally translates to “pan” in Catalan, is a popular Spanish dish prepared by simmering rice with broth, herbs, spices, vegetables and various meats and seafood in a large pan (traditionally over an open flame) until rice is cooked, resulting in an aromatic, hearty meal. Sigh, if that description wasn’t motivation enough for you to make some ASAP, here are a few more reasons why you should be whipping up your own paella tonight:

1. That layer of crispy, toasted rice that forms at the bottom of the pan is absolutely to die for. The Spanish call this socarrat and it’s often the defining mark of good paella. If like me you also don’t have a classic paella, a good ole cast iron skillet will do the trick marvelously.
2. Making paella is a great way to get rid of leftovers or experiment in the kitchen. A few measly sprigs of rosemary on that plant you totally forgot to water? That bell pepper you swore you would chop up as a snack but ended up reaching for the Cheetos? Some leftover Costco rotisserie chicken? Sure why not!
3. It’s so simple to make, and it sounds kinda fancy! Throw everything in one pan, pour yourself a glass of wine and let the heat do the rest. Your dinner date will think you’re quite the cultured chef. Plus your house will smell like the Catalan countryside.