In Wikipedia's infobox, what course is paella?

In Wikipedia’s infobox, paella is classified as a main course. That label reflects its role as a substantial warm rice dish served as the central part of a meal, rather than as a side or starter.

Traditional paella combines short-grain rice with ingredients such as olive oil, vegetables, beans, saffron, meat, or seafood. In Valencia, it was historically a midday meal for farmers and laborers who cooked a one-pan dish outdoors using ingredients available nearby. Its size, cooking method, and substantial rice base helped establish its place as a complete meal.

The classification does not mean every rice dish cooked in a paella pan is identical. Paella valenciana, seafood paella, and mixed paella use different ingredients, while related dishes such as fideuà replace rice with noodles. Another common confusion concerns the pan itself: “paella” can refer both to the dish and, in Valencian and Catalan, to the shallow pan in which it is prepared.