Valencian Seafood Paella
If you have been to a Spanish food joint, regardless of where you are, one of the most common dishes that you probably have seen on their menu is ‘Paella’. It may be named Spanish Paella, Valencian Paella, or simply Paella…But what is this dish?
Well, Paella is a rice dish. It is one of the most popular dishes and definitely an icon in Spanish cuisine. In fact, it is viewed as a national dish. It has its origins in Valencia, Spain and it is regarded as one of their identifying symbols.
So what’s in it? Like what we said, Paella is a rice dish that comes with numerous ingredients – from vegetables to meat and even seafood. You can pretty much put anything in it. Is it good? Of course, it is! Plus, it is healthy, too, especially if you opt for the Valencian Seafood Paella, which is our star for today.
This dish is made of natural ingredients, you can expect it to have an excellent nutritional value. It offers essential vitamins and minerals. And since we are talking about seafood, it contains vitamin A as well as omega 3 fatty acids, which are really good for you.
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Valencian Seafood Paella
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Valencian Seafood Paella recipe would make you love rice even more. Loaded with mussels, clams, shrimps, and other natural ingredients, you can’t say no to it! It is super healthy and it definitely tastes amazing!
Ingredients
3 c. short-grain rice
1 lb. large shrimps (peeled and deveined, with tails left on)
1 lb. mussels (rinsed and scrubbed well)
1 lb. littleneck clams (rinsed and scrubbed well)
6 oz. chorizo sausage (mild dried, sliced into thin half-moons)
4 1/2 c. chicken stock
1/2 tsp. saffron threads (crumbled, loosely measured)
3 tbsps. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1/2 red bell pepper (finely chopped)
1/2 yellow onion (finely chopped)
1 can, 14-oz fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 c. frozen green peas
1/4 c. chopped parsley (for garnishing)
Instructions
- Heat a gas grill to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (medium-high heat).
- Put the chicken stock in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Add the salt and saffron, turn the heat off, and allow the saffron to steep for about 15 minutes. Add more salt if needed.
- Using a cast-iron pan or stainless steel skillet (14-inch big) over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the red pepper and onion. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic followed by the chorizo.
- Set a table next to the grill and assemble the ingredients (sofrito, infused stock, rice, tomatoes, salt, peas, mussels, shrimps, and clams).
- Put the skillet with the sofrito in it on top of the grill and then add the rice. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice should be coated with oil and lightly toasted. Add the stock, peas, and tomatoes. Taste and add salt if needed.
- Spread the rice evenly over the bottom of the skillet, close the grill cover, and let the rice simmer for 15 minutes. This time, do not stir. Wait until the rice absorbs most of the stock. If it gets too dry, add 1 cup of hot water, but do not stir.
- Arrange the mussels, clams, and shrimps over the rice. Cover with foil and close the cover of the grill once again. Cook for 10 minutes or until the rice and shrimps are cooked through.
- Try to slip a spatula under the rice and see if the bottom has caramelized. If not, put the pan over the heat uncovered for a few minutes.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Notes
- When nestling the mussels and clams into the rice, their hinge sides should be up so that they will release their juices into the rice.
- Get rid of any shellfish that is still tightly shut even after cooking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Cuisine: Spanish
Paella is actually a one-pot meal. And you really do not need a special pot or pan. Anything that can accommodate all the ingredients would work just fine.
When serving, you can bring the whole pan to the dinner table. Enjoy! 🙂