Hearty Paella Recipes

SPANISH-STYLE PAELLA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage and chicken in oil for 5 minutes or until sausage is lightly browned and chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain if necessary. , Stir in rice and onion. Cook until onion is tender and rice is lightly browned, stirring frequently. Add the broth, tomatoes, paprika, cayenne, salt and saffron. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 10 minutes. , Stir in the shrimp, peppers and peas. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer or until rice is tender, shrimp turn pink and liquid is absorbed. Top with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, if desired.

HEARTY SPANISH PAELLA WITH SHERRY, CHORIZO AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until browned all over, adding more oil to the pan if necessary. Add the chorizo and cook for 1 minute. Add the garlic and paprika and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Take the pan off the heat and add half the sherry, if using. Return the pan to the heat and bring to a boil. Cook until the sherry has almost evaporated. Add the rice, saffron, butter and stock. Add a bit more stock if you did not use the sherry. Turn the heat down and simmer for 30 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been soaked up by the rice. Do not mix the rice, as it will be a lovely crunchy layer on the bottom. 15 minutes into this cooking time, cover the pan with a lid, baking sheet or aluminum foil. When done, remove the pan from the heat.
• While the rice is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet. Add the scallions and cook just until they start to color, about 2 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until they turn pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the peas and cook until they are warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the remaining sherry, if using. Return to the heat and cook until most of the sherry has evaporated. Pour the shrimp and peas over the cooked rice mixture.
• Serve while hot, garnished with parsley and lime wedges.

MOM'S PAELLA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the chicken, ham, sausage, onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons oil for 3-5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add olives and raisins if desired. Cook 2-3 minutes longer or until heated through, stirring occasionally; remove meat and vegetable mixture from pan and keep warm. , In the same skillet, saute rice in remaining oil for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in the garlic, turmeric and curry. Return meat and vegetables to pan; toss lightly. Add broth and mixed vegetables; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until rice is tender.

PERFECT PAELLA

Steps:

• In a very wide pan or paella pan, preheated over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, add rice and saute 2 or 3 minutes. Add saffron threads, bay leaf, broth, and thyme and bring liquids to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan with lid or foil and reduce heat to simmer.
• In a separate nonstick skillet, over medium high heat brown chicken on both sides in 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add peppers and onions to the pan and cook 3 minutes longer. Add chorizo to the pan and cook 2 minutes more. Remove pan from heat.
• After about 13 minutes, add shellfish to the rice pan, nesting them in cooking rice. Pour in peas, scatter lemon zest over the rice and seafood, then cover the pan again. After 5 minutes, remove cover or foil from the paella and discard any unopened mussel shells. Stir rice and seafood mixture and lift out bay and thyme stems, now bare of their leaves. Arrange cooked chicken and peppers, onions and chorizo around the pan. Top with parsley and scallions. Serve with wedges of lemon and warm bread.