Catalan Paella Recipe 39

CATALAN FIDEUà

Steps:

• Make the broth: Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add small shrimp, garlic, hot pepper, fennel, coriander, bay leaf and thyme. Season generously with salt and pepper, stir to coat and cook 2 minutes more.
• Stir in tomato paste and cook 5 minutes, until mixture begins to look dry. Add fish bones, clams, 1 pound mussels and 8 cups water; cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes.
• Strain through a sturdy mesh sieve into another pot, pushing on solids with a wooden spoon. Discard solids and keep strained broth hot. Taste for salt. Broth should be well seasoned. (Can be made ahead, though eat it within 24 hours, or you can freeze it.)
• Make the fideuà: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put fideus noodles in a large roasting pan or baking sheet. (If using Italian pasta, break it into 2-inch lengths first.) Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil over noodles and toss with hands to coat. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, turning with tongs if necessary, until noodles are golden brown. (May be done in advance.)
• Place a cazuela or wide heavy pot on the stove. Add toasted noodles, pressing down a bit. Ladle 3 cups hot broth over noodles and bring to a boil. Push down on the noodles with a wooden spoon as they soften into the broth. Add saffron-infused water and cook for a minute, then stir to mix. Add enough hot broth to cover pasta by 1 inch. Lower heat and cook at a simmer for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more broth (and adjust heat) if mixture dries out.
• Scatter remaining 1 pound mussels over the top, then push them down until barely submerged. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, until shells open. Turn off heat. The noodles should be cooked but firm, and the mixture a little soupy.
• If using the large shell-on shrimp, season them and sauté in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes per side.
• Ladle into individual soup plates. Mix the parsley with the orange zest. Garnish fideus with shrimp, if using, the parsley mixture and a spoonful of allioli.

CATALAN PAELLA RECIPE - (3.9/5)

Steps:

• Heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken pieces and saute until almost done. Add garlic and onions, and saute until soft. Add the rice and saffron, stirring to coat with oil, about one minute (tumeric can be used instead of saffron). Add tomatoes, wine and broth. Bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add pepper strips, artichoke hearts and peas. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add shrimp, clams and mussels and cook for 15 minutes or until rice is done. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

AUTHENTIC & EASY ROMESCO SAUCE RECIPE - (SALSA ROMESCO)

Steps:

• Hydrate the ñoras the day prior by placing in water (or boil 15 minutes to do this quickly-- not quite the same but it works!), remove the stem and all seeds
• Dry the bread out a few hours in advance (if possible), then toast in the toaster until golden brown. Let cool, remove crusts and cut into smaller cubes.
• Roast the head of garlic and plum tomatoes (pierced at the bottom with a couple of slits) for about 35 minutes at 400°F (200°C) -- drizzle with olive oil before putting in the oven
• Then roast the nuts on a baking sheet for about 5 minutes, moving them around every couple of minutes (keep a close eye on them-- stop when they're golden and fragrant and do not let them burn!)
• Let everything cool down and then mix everything (the tomatoes, peeled roasted garlic cloves, rehydrated peppers, toasted white bread cubes, vinegar, roasted nuts, and olive oil) together in a blender until uniform (not too smooth)
• Add more vinegar, salt, and cayenne (if you wish) to taste.
• Enjoy the sauce with roasted vegetables, or on a sandwich.