What pejorative Spanish name means 'rice with things' for non-Valencian paella-like rice?

The pejorative Spanish name for non-Valencian paella-like rice is “arroz con cosas,” literally “rice with things.”

The phrase is used when a rice dish is presented as paella but includes ingredients that Valencians consider inappropriate or nontraditional. Chorizo is the best-known example: chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay have attracted criticism for including it in paella recipes.

The criticism reflects paella’s strong regional identity. Traditional paella valenciana is associated with rice, chicken, rabbit, beans, saffron and other ingredients from the Valencian landscape, while seafood paella follows a different coastal tradition. Valencians often object when unrelated ingredients are combined and marketed simply as “authentic paella.”

The term is not a formal culinary category, and the boundary can be debated. Food writer Ana Vega has argued from historical evidence that chorizo did appear in some older Valencian preparations. Thus, “arroz con cosas” is best understood as a dismissive cultural label rather than a precise recipe.