The socarrat in paella is one of the most important keys for fabulous flavor. The socarrat is the crusty crispy bottom of the paella that becomes caramelized and toasted on the bottom of the pan when it is cooking. The crust on the bottom can be made in two ways. First, when the rice is almost finished cooking, take the pan with the paella off of the heat and let the rice absorb the remaining water. This will let the rest of the rice continue to cook while the heat from the bottom of the pan creates a crust. The second way to obtain the crust is to use a very high flame to cook the bottom of the rice. You must carefully watch the paella cook though because it can easily burn. After the bottom is crispy, the paella should then rest for a few minutes to set and let the rice absorb all the flavours. No matter which method you use, YOU DON'T WANT TO STIR THE RICE, you want to make sure there is one layer at the bottom that just stays there to cook
